It had been only a few hours after a shooting in Olympia Thursday morning when uninformed, unofficial analysts began focusing on race as the most important factor.
Two black men were shot by a white police officer after they allegedly attempted to steal beer and assaulted an employee. The officer claims he was attacked with skateboards.
As much as some would like to tie this in with the racial unrest erupting in larger cities on the East Coast, to do so is an exercise in ignorance.
As of Friday, the facts above are all we really know about the incident.
It’s easy to fault the officer on those incomplete and uninvestigated merits. Those who are not facing a possible two-on-one attack by a pair brandishing blunt objects might find it hard to believe gunfire was warranted.
Likewise, a couple of young men being shot after a crime as seemingly petty as stealing beer is enough to spark suspicion at least and outrage at worst.
It seems like an obvious statement, but it’s imperative that onlookers remain calm and patient as the facts of the case unfold. Too often, we’ve seen facts manufactured or distorted as a means for producing supporters on one side or another.
Thus far, the city of Olympia has been forthright in providing recordings, reports and available details as quickly as possible. There doesn’t appear to be a coverup of any kind, and the remaining facts of the encounter will likely emerge as outside investigating agencies uncover them.
Still, it’s important to understand that this country is engaging in self-examination when it comes to policing, more specifically how it pertains to racial minorities.
Our region is not immune from the discussion, nor should it be.
Last year, an analysis of Seattle Police Department citations for public marijuana use showed 37 percent of all tickets were issued to African-Americans, a group that represents only 8 percent of the city’s population. While it was later determined that most of the citations were written by a single officer, the case still acts as an example of how we have a long way to go on issues of criminal justice, race and fairness.
Still, efficient self-examination requires that all facts be available.
We’re a long way from that when it comes to the shooting in Olympia.
That remains the case whether your initial reaction is to rush to defend the men who were shot or the officer who fired the shots.
