An Idaho police officer went viral last weekend for mocking LeBron James and his condescending attitude towards the severity of policing in America.
The basketball star turned police policy expert faced serious backlash after he tweeted and deleted a picture of the police officer involved in the Ma’Khia Bryant shooting with the caption “you’re next.”
In efforts to make light of the situation, officers across the country used their social media platforms to make satirical videos.
Deputy Nate Silvester with the Bellevue Marshal’s Office posted a Tik Tok pretending to call James for consultation before intervening in an imaginary attempted stabbing occurring outside his cruiser.
“Dispatch, I’ve arrived at the disturbance, will you have LeBron call my cell phone right away please? Thank you. Excuse me sir, excuse me, can you put the knife down please, sir? No, sir, don’t stab him. Hold on, hold on, it’s LeBron. LeBron, hey, yeah it’s me again. Listen, I’m out here at this disturbance call and there’s a guy trying to stab another guy with a knife. What do you think I should do? Why does that matter? Okay, well, they’re both black. One guy is trying to stab another guy with a knife. Deadly force is completely justified. Uh huh, I see. So you don’t care if a black person kills another black person, but you do care if a white cop kills a black person, even if he’s doing it to save the life of another black person? I mean, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but then again, you are really good at basketball so I guess I’ll take your word for it. Alright, okay, thanks LeBron...Sorry guys, you’re on your own. Good luck!”
After the video went viral, an unnamed citizen filed a complaint against Silvester with the Marshal’s office. They reportedly launched an investigation and allegedly suspended him.
“The Bellevue Marshal’s Office always demands that our Deputies engage with our citizens in a friendly and professional manner. This is NOT how we expect our Deputies to act on duty or use city time. This is a personnel issue that is being dealt with internally,” the office said.
Indeed, policing in this country has taken a turn for the worse.
In just the last week, three police officers lost their lives in the line of duty. Take a look:
“Veteran Delaware cop, 54, dies after being 'repeatedly stomped on head by suspect who also assaulted elderly couple with glass angel figurine'”
“New Mexico police officer gets up, fires back after shot by accused cop killer, video shows”
“Christopher Farrer Identified as Arizona Police Officer Killed After Being Hit By Stolen Car”
These police officers can't respond to being told how to do their job by a person who plays sports for a living - where are the marches for these men murdered while trying to protect the public?
No flower vigils? No protests? No calls for justice? No, but a police officer mocking the minimization of the severity of his job: suspended.
That's why organizations like the Officer Down Memorial Page exist: to pay homage to the officers who risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of all Americans.
