“Recent events in the areas of law enforcement and public safety have been a topic of much discussion and reflection among Urban scholars. The shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police the week of July 3, followed by the shootings of police in Dallas, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shook many communities, including our own.
“In one discussion, someone pointed out that as citizens, we feel the pain of these events immediately, but as researchers, we are forced to honor the systematic and sometimes long academic process in our attempts to offer solutions and recommendations.”