The Mobile (Alabama) Police Department has apologized after an image of two officers apparently mocking the city’s homeless population went viral.
The image was quickly taken down, but not before it made the rounds on Twitter.
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Homelessness is a serious problem.
It’s tough to find an exact number, but at any given time, there are likely over half a million people sleeping rough in the United States. During the cold winter months, homelessness can be a death sentence.
Some initiatives are designed to help homeless people.
In cities with cold winters and large homeless populations, altruistic people often create care packages like the one seen above, or knit blankets and quilts, all designed to help people on the streets stay warm.
This tweet has gone viral.
This post on Twitter has taken off since it was posted at the end of December. It features an image taken from the Facebook page of a Mobile police officer.
Yeesh.
Here’s the pic, showing two officers holding together a “homeless quilt” made of taped-together signs that were confiscated from homeless people. It’s not a great look for the police department.
Reactions were harsh.
There’s no backstory to the pic, but it’s easy to imagine police confiscating these signs from homeless people, all with the aim of taping them together to create what they thought would be a funny pic for social media.
Is this in their job description?
Depending on local bylaws, police may be within their job description to confiscate signs from the homeless.
But are taxpayers really paying them so they can tape the signs together and display their handiwork on social media?
It seems heartless.
Police forces generally have the mandate of serving and protecting.
Taking advantage of, and then mocking, some of society’s most vulnerable people seems like an odd way to carry out their daily duties.
It was terrible PR for the police department.
The actions of a couple of rogue cops painted the entire police department in a bad light. After the overwhelming reaction on social media, Chief Lawrence Battiste addressed the controversial image.
Battiste issued this apology.
In a statement on Facebook, Battiste made it clear that the force doesn’t condone panhandling, but is committed to helping Mobile’s homeless population.
While Battiste did apologize, there was no word on whether the officers would be disciplined.
What do you think?
Homeless people make some uncomfortable, and others disdainful. But should those in public service positions, like police officers, be mocking and bullying them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
