OLYMPIA, Wash. – After 25 years in the Washington State Patrol, Captain Johnny Alexander still loves pulling people over.
“I’m probably one of the few captains that still makes traffic stops,” said Alexander.
But Alexander said they haven’t all gone smoothly.
“I've stopped African American violators," said Alexander, "I get called the name, ‘Uncle Tom’ but, you know, it’s tough, yes it is. But rarely does that happen.”
Alexander, who is African American, called the killing of three Baton Rouge police officers “very troubling” and “painful.”
He said he understood the frustrations posted online by one of the Baton Rouge Officer’s Montrell Jackson, before Sunday's shootings.
Jackson, who was African American, posted a message on Facebook July 8, following the murder of officers in Dallas.
Jackson wrote that he was both emotionally and physically tired by the recent events, especially as an African American, writing, “In uniform I get nasty hateful looks and out of uniform some consider me a threat.”
“I get it,” said Alexander, “Before I was a law enforcement officer I was an African American. I have been stopped by law enforcement and it wasn’t always pleasant.”
But Alexander said the overwhelming majority of his interactions in Washington have been positive.
He credits his work with the African American community, both in and out of uniform.
As a 25-year veteran, he also mentors younger minority troopers who may face problems on the roads, or from the African American community.
“To try and encourage them those that express a dislike involving law enforcement, that’s only a minority, that’s a small amount,” said Alexander.
Alexander has struggled with what has happened in the country this month, but said law enforcement officers, regardless of their race, cannot let that discourage them from working to solve the problem.
“If we don’t do it, how’s it going to get done?” asked Alexander.
