Op-ed: Rochester PD needs to rescind its mugshot policy, or name names.
A Black woman is accused of skipping court on charges related to allegations of kidnapping and torturing a White woman over 10 cents. The cops have the suspect's recent photo, why don't you?
When law enforcement makes an arrest, they’re telling the public that they believe they found someone who threatens the society they’re sworn to protect. When they file charges, they bear professional witness to what that threat was.
On 14 September, Rochester Police arrested Shawntae Hall, a 20-year-old Black woman from Rochester, and charges were filed against her. In doing so, law enforcement is clearly suggesting that Hall had threatened societal order by unlawfully imprisoning 29-year-old Allison Smith, a White woman.
After Hall missed court recently, Smith spoke to a local ABC affiliate, 13 WHAM (below). Smith told them that she narrowly escaped with her life after being kidnapped in her own car following an incident where she allegedly broke a $5 bill to borrow ten cents.
Other suspects in the case do exist, but no description has been provided. Unfortunately, a considerable amount of time has passed for those wishing to investigate on their own, giving ample time for the accused to scrub their digital footprints of evidence.
The only reason Shawntae Hall’s race is included in this article is because of Vinelink, a database that sometimes has access to old jail census records that are often recycled.
After researching hundreds of suspects (for various stories), we can confidently state that those labeled as "Black" are typically, in fact, Black.
If the opposite is true, the trend remains.
Last year, a totally different kidnapping case involving a female White victim and Black suspects also ‘went viral’ locally. The horrific attack, in that case, can be seen on video.
Now that Hall is alleged to have skipped her court date while on pre-trial supervision, there are only two reasons not to release her mugshot:
It doesn’t exist
Those with access will not do it
We’re not filling out any paperwork
Perhaps the mugshot could be requested.
Perhaps it could also be released automatically as a sign of law enforcement’s certainty that they enforce not just written law but justice.
If this person's mugshot does not exist, the implications are terrible. Yet, the resulting criticism could be oversimplified as extreme ineptitude.
As Ms. Hall was booked and arraigned, it’s far more likely the mugshot exists. It’s just not for you to see.
The mugshot law and the mugshot policy
When former President Donald Trump was arraigned in NYC in April of last year, NPR lamented that the release of Trump’s mugshot was not guaranteed without leaks.
As NPR’s Rachel Treisman pointed out, a ban on mugshots has been in effect since the 2019 passing of the NYS 2020 budget. Expanding on this point, Treisman says this is apparently a moderate position to former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s original intent; police should not release names, charges, or photos, excluding certain practical needs.
Departments draft mugshot policies to comply with legal requirements. In our area, WROC reported that the sheriffs of Seneca, Ontario, and Livingston counties will continue to release mugshots automatically and keep to the status quo. However, agencies that stopped automatically releasing mugshots include the Rochester Police Department, the Greece Police Department, and the New York State Police.
It seems that releasing mugshots could somehow be related to the amount of White people in a population; what do you think?
Interestingly, the same point is made from an ‘antiracist’ perspective by WKBW in Buffalo, NY.
At some point, it becomes necessary to acknowledge the system for what it does: allow for a certain amount of Black on White violence to occur. As a police officer, you’re expected to defend that system.
You are the trusted bodyguards.
You can try to buck the saddle, but they might try to put you in a cage instead.
What can be done?
Leadership’s task is simple: informally or formally propose a change to your own department’s policy. If anyone gets in your way, name them to the media.
The generalized disparagement of Bail Reform or concepts like ‘Raise the Age’ is insufficient. The people need a clear and achievable objective, and what better than a local mugshot policy?
If you’re the Chief of a police agency and it’s the mayor in your way, name him and prepare for a media war. If you’re a Captain and it’s the Chief in your way, name him and prepare for a media war.
It’s already on message with an occasionally ‘tough-on-crime’ appearance, so roll with it. It will be at significant personal risk, but anything is possible if you’re a brave policeman.
If you’re an individual officer, just be careful.
If you leak mugshots, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble and will risk losing some money. It’s best to keep your head down, and your pension moderately full. Only a little bit of that pension is “today and forever” affixed to the failing State of Israel’s economy, and they’re the ones that give you everything you have in the first place.
Bear in mind that the Unions and your leaders lecture you on antiracism and gayness because they respect you. Thankfully, you respect yourself enough to listen and then go back on the street to get berated by Blacks.
If you do wish to do something, you’ll need to align with the other ‘good apples’ and force a conversation on mugshots with your leaders by any legal means you can.
It is risky, nonetheless; it’s best not to try.
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