Relationships matter, regardless of your job

What I think is interesting about what's going on here in Oakland is that the reaction stems from the OPD's historically poor relationship with the citizens of Oakland. (http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_18947724) The OPD was threatened with federal takeover last year because it has failed to reform its behavior and practices. It shouldn't be lost on anyone that Ogawa Park is been dubbed 'Oscar Grant Park' by protesters. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BART_Police_shooting_of_Oscar_Grant) the unarmed man shot by BART police in Oakland the on NYE. Community ties and culturally competency matter in every business, public or private. If OPD had done its due diligence-- training and educating its officers about cultural differences and historical oppression, hiring for diversity of life experience, not just diversity of race and gender-- to change it's relationship with the working class in Oakland violent unrest would be no more of an issue here than in any other 'Occupied' park in the country. (Photograph by the amazing Anthony Kurtz)