'We Are Part of the Problem': Orange County Sheriff Speaks on Systemic Racism

As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to spur protests and discussion, there is a call for structural change and reform on a national and local level.

97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck spoke with Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood to hear his thoughts on systematic racism in law enforcement and how we can effectively ‘do the right thing now.’

Blackwood said the issue of systemic racism in our community has been an ongoing conversation for years. He said treating people with dignity, regardless of the color of their skin, is something he learned from his parents, and is something that will take continual practice as current events continue to unfold.

“I’ve been in this business for 40, going on 41 years now, and we’ve seen dramatic changes and we gain ground and then we lose ground,” Blackwood said. “We lost a lot of ground most recently with the events from Minneapolis and, I’ve said this, but they shot the conscience of society.”

Blackwood said the murder of George Floyd was clear, deliberate and wrong and there’s nothing to say in defense of the violence that was captured on video in Minneapolis.

According to Blackwood, using technology to expose injustice might just be the tool needed to better stir change.

“You can certainly say that it has allowed this time in history to be captured by the moment,” Blackwood said. “It is really important right now because historically these moments don’t last long and they go away real quick. If we’re to get anything done to see real positive change, it’s important to do it right now.”

Blackwood said the way forward is to push for change on a legislative level, and he thinks this is something the younger generations are ready to do.

“Our kids are being really vocal right now and I’ll tell the politicians out there that you better listen because they’re voting,” Blackwood said. “They’re going to vote strong and you better listen to them because we’re going to see some strong changes and I think they’re going to be for the better.”

Blackwood said every four years, these topics surrounding systematic racism, police brutality and justice for all are amplified. Right now, he said these topics are even further amplified by current events in Minneapolis and around the nation – combined with the fact that this is an election year.

Blackwood said these conversations need to be had by everyone or change will be slow-going.

“We have got to accept the fact on the law enforcement side that there is systemic racism and we’re part of that problem,” Blackwood said. “If we don’t do that, we’re never going to get anywhere. We’ve also got to accept the fact that we’ve got to change some of the practices that we have. If we don’t do that we won’t get anywhere – it’ll stay just as it is.”

Currently, conversations about systemic changes for the Sheriff’s office are revolving around low-level marijuana charges and resist, obstruct and delay charges, or ROD’s.

“Young officers feel like they’ve got to follow these rules to the tee, and if they put their hands on somebody, who’s belligerent with them because their resistant, that they have to arrest them,” Blackwood said. “Even if they’re going there to investigate a charge and nothing happened. You don’t have to do that. You can stabilize the situation and then move on from it. So we are part of the problem and we can make some change to make things better.”

Hear more of Aaron Keck’s conversation with Sheriff Blackwood here.

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‘We Are Part of the Problem’: Orange County Sheriff Speaks on Systemic Racism

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