As I sat in anticipation for the verdict to be read in the trial of ex-police officer Mohamed Noor for killing of Justine Ruszczyk, I wondered about the ramifications of both a guilty and not guilty verdict. Should Noor be found not guilty, the verdict would be a dagger into the hearts of the victim’s family and community. A not guilty verdict would justify any murder by a police officer in the state of Minnesota. For too long, police officers have been given great latitude in killing a civilian. All a police officer has had to say is “I fear for my life” to justify discharging their firearm. The victim has always vilified and the police officer herald for saving their life and getting rid of a threat. But what happens when that justification kills someone who called police believing someone was in danger and needed help? They called 911 to have police, who are sworn to protect and serve, to help someone potentially being assaulted. Instead of helping a potential assault victim, the caller became the victim as they were shot dead by police. A not guilty verdict says the life of a police officer is more valuable than any civilian because we, as civilians, pose an indefinite threat to police and are there for indispensable.
A guilty verdict would show that police are not above the law, their warrior training is no longer acceptable in our community, and police are not deities. A guilty verdict would prove to family, friends and the community that this death should never have happened. A guilt verdict will not bring Ruszczyk back to life but will send her killer to jail.
But let’s be real. A guilty verdict has the potential to elevate racism against black police officers in Minnesota. If found guilty, Noor, a black Somali American Muslim man, would be the first police officer found guilty in the killing of a civilian while on duty according to MPR News. Let me reiterate, he is a black man, he is a Muslim and he killed a white woman. Our racist history tells us that this man will be found guilty. Regardless if the shooting was “justified”, black men have been viewed as a threat to white women and should not be trusted. Islamophobia is on the rise and a Muslim killed a white non-Muslim. No matter what, the deck is stacked against Noor. It seems unlikely that he will not be found guilty. If Noor is found guilty, I suspect, given our society’s history, that black police officers and non-white Muslin police officers will be perceived by white society as unfit for service. It only takes one person for the stereotype of “black people not being intelligent” to be used against all other black police officers. Black police officers’ actions will be judged more harshly even though their actions are the exact same actions as their white counterparts. Black police officer’s will be viewed as not able to understand the complexities of protecting our society from evils that have infiltrated our communities. What we know is that only black people are held accountable in Minnesota and non-white police officers are given a pass. The first police officer prosecuted for killing a civilian while on duty was Jeronimo Yanez, a Latino man. Yanez killed Philando Castille, a black man, and was found not guilty of manslaughter and two counts of intentional discharge of a dangerous weapon.
I firmly believe Noor should be found guilty as should have other police officers who were never charged. Murders by police officers must stop. Maybe this will be the first step in the right direction. A guilty verdict is unlikely to influence significant changes in policing statewide, but I must keep faith that change can and will happen.
I am anxious as I waited for the verdict to be read. It’s time…Noor was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2nd degree and murder in the 3nd degree. Noor was also found not guilty on murder in the 2nd degree. Justice for Ruszczyk was served but true justice would be her living her life today with her family and friends.