By Kelsey Johnson
Viking Longboat
Haslett HS
1st Place
Division 3, News Writing
News Analysis
Senior Tony Tompson pulled into the high school parking lot, just like any other day. After parking his maroon Impala and making his way toward the building he was approached by an unfamiliar face. A man dressed in street clothes identified himself as a Meridian township police officer.
“First the undercover officer approached me and he wanted to search my backpack. He didn’t believe who I was. They asked me if I had any weapons, if I was high, if I had been doing drugs, what was I doing going to school, and I told them I was just trying to get to class,” Tompson said.
As Tompson became visibly upset with the officer, four more jumped out of an unmarked patrol car and joined their colleague.
Meridian police were in the high school parking lot Sept. 17 as a result of reported gunfire and car break-ins on the corner of Haslett and Cornell roads. Meridian police officers were looking for two teens, ages 15-18, and possibly in possession of drugs and alcohol. One of the suspects was described as wearing a hat and dark clothes.
As students began to file into the school, there was an announcement made that the school would be going into lockdown until the suspects were found. Ultimately, two suspects were caught, including a former Haslett student. Despite the outcome, Tompson was left feeling bitter. This is not the first time Tompson has been randomly questioned by police.
“I was just wearing my favorite bucket hat, my normal clothes, a tank top,” he said. “I never thought this would happen to me at school. I was just trying to get to class.”
Tompson acknowledges he doesn’t dress in a preppy style, “I might not be wearing some Sperry’s and khaki shorts and a polo but just because I don’t look all high class and fancy doesn’t mean they should call me out.”
Tony’s experience that day is not out of the ordinary. Students all over the Haslett area have encountered situations where they have felt profiled by officers because of their appearance. Sophomore, Patrobah Mazara says he can relate to Tompson’s frustration.
Mazara has been pulled over on multiple occasions while returning home from friends houses on his bike. He recalls one moment that has stuck with him.
“So I was biking home from my friend’s house one night, and a policeman pulled me over. I was a bit irritated because I was on a bike and I was being pulled over and it wasn’t even past curfew yet,” Mazara said.
After a few questions, the officer asked Mazara to show him where he lived.
“He started following me in his car to my house,” Mazara said. “He asked me if where I took him was where I really lived, and I wondered why would I lie about something like that?” While Mazara put his bike away his Aunt and Mom opened the door to a sight no parent likes to see. The officer immediately asked if Mazara really lived there and if he was actually who he said he was.
“He was pretty respectful, and I felt that he was honest with me. He told them (Mazara’s Mom and Aunt) he didn’t want to see me get in trouble, but at the same time I was wondering why would he assume that I was getting in trouble” Mazara said. Mazara left without any penalties but was still greatly affected by it. He often worries about his friends and the experiences they have had in the past.
“My friends have had experiences (with profiling) and I’m a very protective person and I just don’t want to see them get in trouble,” Mazara said. “I just don’t want to see anybody end up dead for something stupid like that.”
Senior, Macy Lydigsen felt that she was unfairly questioned by the police one night while driving home after a long night at work.
Although Lydigsen was only sixteen and driving past ten, she wasn’t breaking the law. According to the state of Michigan’s graduated driver restrictions, “teens shall not operate a motorized vehicle between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. except when driving to or from or in the course of employment.”
“I just remember I kept asking him why I was being pulled over because he wouldn’t tell me at first,” Lydigsen said. “He technically pulled me over for speeding, but I was only going two or three over so I didn’t get it. I just remember being really mad.” Although the outcome was in her favor, and she didn’t get a ticket, Lydigsen believes she was pulled over because of her age.
According to Michigan State Police Sergeant Derrick White, officers are trained to ignore physical characteristics no matter what. That includes age, race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.
“In a perfect world, clothing or any other physical traits should not matter,” Sergeant White said. “I’m not saying it never happens, as every department has a few bad apples, but it is certainly never taught nor is (profiling) it an accepted practice.”
White goes on to say that he has arrested teens for MIP’s, shoplifting, and similar crimes from every race, gender and socioeconomic status there is. “I can honestly say there is no physical trait that stands out more than any other. Most of the time it is just kids making poor decisions.”
White admits that police handle certain crimes more aggressively than others, but it’s all about keeping kids safe. “I know that teens sometimes feel like they are being picked on or profiled by the police when they are simply out trying to have a good time. I remember feeling the same way when I was a teenager. But police are there to make sure that laws are being followed and people out having a good time are doing so in a safe manner.”