Some years ago, a 12 year old Black kid was going home from his father's business and hitched a ride on a slow moving train, as he was accustomed to doing. But this time, two police decided it was time to have fun with this little Black kid. They pulled him off the train, terrorized him, threatened to beat him, and assumed his first, middle, and last names were nigger. So traumatized and humiliated was this kid from this incident of two police just having fun, that he was too afraid to tell his parents or anyone about this incident for many years.

That was this writer's first encounter with the police, and that encounter informed my opinions for years to come. It was not until I was working in the courts and had friends who were police that I reconsidered my views, but not by much. My story has been the story of many young, Black kids, who grow into adulthood with similar gestalts that never altered. Across this nation, many African Americans have a negative impression and attitude about police. But in Oakland, a new attitude has been generated in the African American community concerning Oakland’s police department, especially their Chief. Were this a story review, I would say, this is the story of one man who has altered the attitudinal landscape of the broader African American community in Oakland about the  police department. But it is not a story; it's an interview of Joseph Samuels, Oakland's most popular Chief of Police,  as we look at his legacy. This interview does not follow the format of most interviews, the familiar Q & A's.

I had known Joe Samuels when I worked in the courts, so he wasn't someone I had to get a feeling for. But, when going to his busy office, atop the eight floor, I saw policemen come in and out of the building with their usual swagger and military style, and that made me remember the little 12 year old boy and his first experience with policemen. And, yes, I felt some of the feelings I had known long ago. But on the eighth floor was someone who humanized the police for me and gave me a different insight and understanding. Joseph Samuel humanized the police for thousands in Oakland.

We sat, and as I observed him, I could see that beneath his polished and smooth veneer is a policeman, proud and jealous of his profession, and a man who is accustomed to being in charge of people and situations. He is also a man, this writer thinks, who is too polished to not think about politics eventually.

Joseph Samuels, at approximately six feet, two inches tall, is a relatively large, well-built man, of approximately 190-200 pounds. Dark and handsome, he smiles easily and is comfortable with himself, with others, and with power. But he's cautious. When I asked about tapping this interview, he hesitated.

We sat at the table and talked. The phone wouldn't stop ringing, but he handled it well. My first question was about his outrageous popularity in Oakland. He has become almost a celebrity in Oakland--as he walks along the streets, people wave, stop, and talk with him as if he were someone they know. His response was in keeping with his overall philosophy: "I have treated people with respect and spent time talking to them. I have always been professional, and I expect that my officers will be that way too." Samuels, the magnanimous, self-effacing person, says the reason for his popularity is that many good people have made him look good.

The officers he promoted, he pointed out, earned their promotions. "It wasn't that I gave them anything." And what of the many of those officers? "Many of them have gone on to head other police departments." He names a number of officers who have gone on from the Oakland Police Department to other promotional jobs. "They were qualified. They deserved their recognition and positions."

I probed him on the possibility of having a female Chief of Police in Oakland in the next 10 years. "Sharon Jones is one of my Deputy Chiefs now. There are many fine female officers, but one of the problems for them is that the pool of ranking officers is not broad enough to have the abundance necessary to choose from. That's something we need to work on."

Samuels said that he came to Oakland as a police recruit and worked his way up the ranks. From Oakland, he went to Fresno as their Chief and was hired by Oakland some years thereafter as its Chief of Police. "When I first came into the police department, about 17 years ago as a recruit, only 15% of the force was people of color. Now the force is a little over 50% people of color."

I asked about the number of officers living in the city. This has been an issue in some circles. "You probably know that the law is so structured that you can't require residency. So what we are doing is offering incentives to officers to live in the City. But for any number of reasons, throughout the nation, most police do not live in the city in which they work. This is the way it is, and Oakland is no different than other cities. I think approximately 15% of our force live here. This is a common percentage. There may be any number of reasons for this reality. We are still trying to see if our incentives work."

I asked about the Chief of Police-designate, who will replace him. "The City Manager and I talked about my replacement, and I encouraged him to look within the Oakland ranks for a replacement. He did, and picked a fine and, certainly, qualified person for the position. Richard Word has come up through the ranks. I am proud to say that we encouraged the training that helped prepare him for this position. But like most of those who have gone on from Oakland to head police departments elsewhere, he earned his position. No one gave him anything. He's a very fine man and he will do well."

We eased into a discussion about his legacy with the Oakland Police Department. Others have already covered his biography and other details. His answer to that inquiry was somewhat surprising.

What do you think your legacy will be in the Oakland Police Department, I asked. He paused and thought momentarily, then said: "I think a legacy should be a biography, not an autobiography. It is what people say about me that's important, not what I say about myself. I have done many things in this City and in this Department that I am very proud of. Let others write their opinions of me."

Seeing that he was extremely busy, and I was consuming too much of his valuable time, I quickly asked about his next endeavors and his future (he leaves in July). "I think I will stay in Law Enforcement. There are a number of areas I'm looking into. I don't want to talk about them now, of course." [Samuels went to head the Richmond, CA Police Department.]

I thanked him for taking the time to talk with me, and he thanked me and all the people of Oakland and the fine men and women who have served with him in the police department.

--Commentary--

Adrienne Rich's poem, Raped, depicts the female side of the young kid trying to get home and his chance encounter with two police. Her character sought protection and assistance from the police after a brutal rape, but realized a problem with her protectors. Her poem reads: "There is a cop who is both prowler and father...." Cops should not be prowlers, but fathers (protectors), even friends. Joseph Samuels is a man of grace and style, he has a keen intellect and is the ideal police officer. He is what every police officer should be--a protector, a friend. It is this type of police officers (male and female) who will change the mindsets that many African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and those who have beliefs and notions informed by real-life, negative experiences with cops. Were there more Joe Samuels Police Chiefs in our cities, maybe African Americans would be able to feel that the police are to protect and serve them also.

"What is your legacy?" He placed the question back to me and to all Oaklanders to answer. Each Oaklander must answer for him/herself, but for me, Joseph Samuels humanized the Oakland Police Department--he gave it a friendly, likable face to this African American. He made me feel safe (...Somewhat) when encountering a (cop) police officer late at night. This legacy, at a time when other police departments in this nation are too often out of control (NYDP, Riverside, LADP, etc.) allows the teachings that my church-going parents instilled in me to flicker to a conscious remembrance and displace those other attitudes. "The rulers (police) are not a terror to good works, but to evil.... For he [they] is the minister of God to thee for good." [Rom.13:3]