Deputy who killed himself left haunting videos on racist policing, division: 'I've had enough'

[entremet]

RIP.

Before deputy Clyde Kerr III took his own life Monday outside the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, he left haunting final words in a series of social media videos.

Kerr, a father and military veteran, was 43 years old.

In Kerr’s videos, he talked directly to the camera on a range of issues, from police brutality against Black people and mental health needs in policing, to division in society and children’s exposure to murder, violence and other negative or traumatic influences. He also describes his struggle to reconcile his identity as a Black man with his profession while hinting at his impending suicide.

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Being a Black man in law enforcement can be difficult, said Lafayette City Marshal Reggie Thomas, the first Black person elected to a citywide position in Lafayette.

Thomas said he watched some of the videos Kerr posted and could tell the man was deeply concerned about the way police work is going. One video that particularly resonated was of Kerr relating a conversation he had with his son in the aftermath of George Floyd's death at the hands of police.

"He had to talk to his son about how you have to react with a police officer," Thomas said. "Nobody should have to have that conversation."

Kerr’s videos have garnered thousands of views since his death and are catalyzing conversation online and in the community about addressing mental health needs and the current state of policing.

Kerr said he was done serving a system that doesn't care about people like him.

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Deputy who died by suicide left haunting videos on racist policing, division: 'I've had enough'

Before deputy Clyde Kerr III took his own life Monday outside the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, he left haunting final words in a series of social media videos.

www.theadvocate.com

 

[Apharmd]

It really is a struggle, being a black man and working in law enforcement, which in America is a fundamentally racist institution. Many black officers are not self-aware and lean conservative. This deputy was deeply self aware, on the other hand, clearly to the detriment of his own mental health. This is a sad story. I wish he had been able to get help and I wish we could have deep reforms in policing, but unfortunately I think we are far from that despite the nationwide protests in 2020.

 

[Squarehard]

Not to make light of the situation, but this was a "Are we the baddie?" kind of moment.

Just think about the story about the black officer who couldn't be buried in a cemetery, because he was black. And the partner's response was something like, he was good enough to protect you, but not get a proper burial.

ACAB is an institutional problem, which they continue to pretend it's about something else so they can play the victim.

RIP.

 

[Moppeh]

RIP.

Since Kerr mentioned mental health needs in policing, I'd like to touch on that. While police brutality should and must still be the primary focus on policing issues, mental health is often ignored. I'll be clear, I'm not a Black American but rather a White Canadian. I have friends and family who are police officers who continue to struggle with mental illness as a result of their work. It was eye-opening to me because it was made clear that if these institutions won't even look after their own people, then what the hell are they going to do for the communities that they are meant to protect and serve?

If only a majority of these officers would understand that a radical change in policing would make their lives better. Instead, they will resist any sort of change as a result of hatred or ignorance and will lead to more hardship for well-intentioned officers like Kerr. And of course, the legions of innocent people, racialized or of low income, will bear the brunt of this institutional sadism. It's fucking disgusting.

 

[Aurica]

Really fucking awful stuff. Being Black in law enforcement sounds really painful. Such a broken system.

It really is a struggle, being a black man and working in law enforcement, which in America is a fundamentally racist institution. Many black officers are not self-aware and lean conservative.

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I was reading The End of Policing recently, and while I was aware of what you're talking about, seeing the stats was disturbing.

 

[Sirhc]

RIP.

Shame to see this is the policing system working as intended to push out the good ones, it's easy to say ACAB but there are truly a few who are trying to do the right thing. However as long as the blue wall of silence exists and police afe encouraged to protect their own over their duty and push out those who would do the right thing this will continue.

It shouldn't take a man losing his life to bring attention to the injustices of our police system, which keeps happening time and again. I truly hope we see police reform in my lifetime.

 

[Godfather]

It's a damn shame he didn't get the help he needed, and infuriating that the system pushed him this far. I can't imagine the cognitive dissonance when every part of his job is pushing him to harm his own people.

 

[Nida]

Being a black cop is rough. Being a black cop in Lafayette, Louisiana is going to be even worse.

 

[Nola]

Being a black cop is rough. Being a black cop in Lafayette, Louisiana is going to be even worse.

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Lafayette is overall a pretty shitty city.

Fun fact, they were also the city that’s mayor turned into Immortan Joe with their water supply and resources following the hurricanes that hit some of their neighbor cities. Refused to open refugee shelters in their city because in the mayor’s words, Lake Charles had a lot of those “BLM people” and didn’t want them coming there.

So yeah, I’m sure that city and the police is rotten to the core.

 

[DarkenedSoul]

Whoa, weird seeing a local city being mentioned here. Sucks it had to be an unfortunate event such as this. RIP. I don't envy anyone being a person of color working in law enforcement around here.