Madiba K. Dennie, writing in Balls and Strikes:

In July 2022, a high school graduation party in upstate New York turned into a melee. Police officers arrived on the scene after receiving reports of multiple fights. Then, a partygoer walked right up to the cops and introduced herself. “I’m Erin Gall,” she said. “I’m a Supreme Court judge.”

Dennie’s story from a few days ago focuses, rightly, on the abusive and abhorrent behavior of the judge, and that, based on her conduct, she should lose her job.

She pressured the officers to arrest four Black teenagers, saying she “might have to call the chief of police” if the cops didn’t comply. She insulted the Black kids’ intelligence, saying that they “don’t look like they’re that smart” and were “not going to business school, that’s for sure.”….

She also threatened to shoot the teens, claiming that she was allowed to do so to trespassers. “I’ll shoot them on the property,” Gall said. (It is important to note here that the property was not even hers.)

New York State doesn’t have a “stand your ground” law. In fact, it has a “duty to retreat” law, except when an attacker is in your home, or in cases of robbery, burglary, kidnapping, and sexual assault. None of which applied here. Not only does she seem to be racist and biased, it appears she’s not even a competent judge.

The full complaint against Gall is absolutely jaw dropping and well worth reading; it goes into full detail on the depth of her rage and privilege that evening.

She absolutely deserves to lose her judgeship, and any cases which ever came before her involving police or Black people should probably be reviewed, if not tossed outright.

Yes, her behavior is that appalling.

But can we take a moment to acknowledge the responding officers?

Dennie writes,

The cops, who I assume are the most self-aware police officers in the tri-state area, resisted Gall’s directives.

I think she massively undersells this. When cops show up, they often escalate an already tense situation, often with deadly results.

Not these cops. These officers were calm, polite, helpful. They shut down the racist, violent rhetoric coming from the judge and her family and friends. They were solicitous toward the young Black men who were the focus of her diatribes. They wished everyone safe rides home, and it sounded like they meant it.

They were everything we’re told police officers are supposed to be.

Early in the video, as he clears everyone out, an officer approaches two of the young Black men who were part of the altercations. The officer immediately expresses concern that one of the guys may be hurt, reaching out to touch the guy’s shoulder and face. He asks if he needs medical attention, suggests the injury may need stitches, and calls someone over to help. He then asks what happened; the second young man moves closer, and starts to explain, with an opening caveat:

Officer, officer, I don’t want you think I’m touching you or nothing—

He does this with his hands raised, arms bent at the elbow, palms out. The gesture is unmistakable: I’m harmless, no need to fear me. Hands up, don’t shoot.

The officer responds immediately:

Nah, nah, you’re alright.

Immediate de-escalation.

Toward the end of the evening, as the last people are leaving, there’s this exchange between a young Black woman in her car, and the officer:

Woman: Have a good night, officer. Thank you for being respectful.

Officer: It’s the only way.

Attendee: Definitely.

You can hear the appreciation, verging on relief, in her voice as she drives off.

Imagine if all police were this self-aware.