In the essay written by the retired cop Diane Goldstien, she explains the basis behind being a cop during the black lives matter protests. In the essay “I’m a Cop and I Support Black Lives Matter: How Can We Heal these Wounds?” the author argues against society’s idea that their has to be a line that divides the law enforcement and the black population. As a retired female lieutenant for the Redondo Beach Police Department in California, Goldstein currently serves as a commentator, columnist, and Executive Board Member for the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, an organization that opposes the current war on drugs. That being said, she has been heavily involved in police departments and other organizations for many years, which proves to the audience that she is a credible source. 

The essay is written in first person, which allows the reader to relate to the context on a deeper level. The first person point of view establishes the tone for the remainder of the essay. The tone that is given throughout the essay is the need and hope for the community. The author is writing as if she hopes for the community to understand that the Black community is not the enemy, nor is the police department. In order to successfully establish a connection between the two arguments, society must understand the need for police in their everyday lives, which is the main point that Goldstein is trying to project in her essay. For example, the essay opens with Goldstein explaining the comments and posts that are on her Facebook timeline. As a cop, she is constantly exposed to the hatred and distrust of the community, but during the black lives matter protests she believes that the media is to blame for driving the divide between society and the police departments. Due to her previous background as a law enforcement agent, she has a very strong and emotional connection to the harsh comments that are being made towards the police. 

She explains how she is emotionally drained from having to constantly explain to her friends that she can support both sides of the argument. She can be pro-law enforcement, as well as pro-Black Lives Matter. That being said, she believes that she equally supports both sides of the argument, which expands the amount of the people that this article is relevant to. For example, the target audience can relate to both the pro-law enforcement side of the argument, as well as the pro-Black Lives Matter standpoint. By being mutually equal, the reader is open to chose whatever side they want without feeling like the author is writing in hopes of persuading the reader to believe one side over the other.

  In the current time, most police officers were automatically looked at as the enemy during the protests because that was all that the media saw. The media was constantly seeing the police officers beating and using force at the Black Lives Matter riots, which was a negative representation of what actually was happening. Goldstein writes that “I largely blame our inability to admit to our policing failures, to accept that whether or not we intended to or damage the marginalize communities of color, that is what has occurred”(Goldstein, 426).  This quote explains that the police departments are unable to admit to their poor policing tactics but instead turn to violence and social riots in order to gain the communities support. Goldstein believes that the police are to blame for all the Black Lives Matter protests and that they are a direct response to the actions of law enforcement. However, in order to control the riots and the harsh protests, the community must come to an agreement that neither side is correct. The African Americans are not the enemy, nor is the police department, but instead they all need to end the division between the two sectors and go back to doing their jobs. The issue that many law enforcement agents face is the task of controlling the social economic explanations of crime, many of which fall in the category associated with race and specific geographic areas. 

In order to reach the reader on an emotional, ethical and logical way, the author uses various rhetorical techniques to appeal to the reader. For example, Goldstein uses ethos to appeal to the reader’s sense of ethical behavior. Since she is writing in first person, Goldstein establishes a connection with the reader and proceeds to describe events that occurred while she as working as a law enforcement agent. She also uses logos to appeal to the reader’s logical sense. For example, she includes statistical information to support her argument, which proves to the reader that there is fact behind what she is saying. By providing statistical data in an argument, the author not only appears to be more creditable but also gives the reader facts that can help to support her argument. Goldstein also appeals to the reader’s pathos by basing some of her argument on the reader’s emotions and feelings. For example, she writes about how no matter how many protests and riots are caused by the Black Lives matter activist, we, as a society are not capable of living in a society without the help of law enforcement agents. Society relies on the control of the police to help civilians be safe. 

Throughout the essay, Goldstein uses pathos, ethos, and logos to appeal to the audience. By appealing to the audience’s emotional, logical, and ethical feelings, the author gains the support of the audience, as well as guiding the reader along the essay. The essay is very easy to read, which establishes a well-rounded author to reader connection. That being said, throughout the essay the reader learns both sides of the argument and is left to reflect on which side they would rather support. It is not meant to separate pro-Black Lives matter supporters and pro-law enforcement supporters, but instead prove to them that they are missing the point of why they are in a disagreement, it is not due to any one mistake but instead due to the fact that neither one of the sides will confess that they were wrong. 