Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Black Officers' Lives Matter, Too

From the point of view of anti-police activists, the only black lives that "matter" are those of street criminals killed by police.

March 4, 2016
Black Officers' Lives Matter, Too

Photo: Kelly Bracken

4 min to read


Protesters connected with the Black Lives Matter movement recently jammed up the streets of Seattle. And from the level of outrage you would think an officer walked up to a young black man on the streets and shot him for no reason. But nothing could be further from the truth.

On Sunday Feb. 21, Seattle police were conducting surveillance when they spotted Che Taylor, a convicted rapist, wearing a holstered handgun. Officers ordered Taylor to show his hands and get on the ground. Police say instead of following these lawful commands, Taylor reached for his gun and was mortally wounded when police opened fire. Che Andre Taylor, a 46-year-old convicted felon, died the way he lived, violently. And the police who shot him are heroes, not villains.

Ad Loading...

But now because anti-police activists have succeeded in promoting the idea that all police shootings of black men—regardless of how heinous the past or current crimes of these men or the threat they presented to the police and the public at the time of the shooting—are "murders," Che Andre Taylor has joined a pantheon of "saints" memorialized by Black Lives Matter.

Here's a look at some of the other "victims" canonized by the movement.

Michael Brown—Minutes before he was killed by a Ferguson officer in August 2014, 18-year-old Brown was throwing his considerable weight and size around, quite literally. He walked into a local convenience store with his friend Dorian Johnson, terrorized the clerk, and walked out with a box of cigars that he decided were free just because he could take them. In other words, he committed strong-arm robbery.

Jamar Clark—On Nov. 15 Minneapolis police officers were called to a domestic disturbance to aid EMTs who were caring for an injured young woman who had been struck by Jamar Clark, her ex-boyfriend. While paramedics were treating her for her injuries, Clark reportedly tried to drag her out of the ambulance and continue the attack. A confrontation with police began, and officers say Clark attempted to grab an officer's gun and was killed. Other witnesses of the events say Clark was on the ground and handcuffed when he was shot, but they are probably as reliable as the "hands up, don't shoot" crowd in Ferguson. Regardless, it's not in dispute that Clark was possessive of his exes and willing to use violence against them. At the time of his death, he had been recently released on probation after pleading guilty to making terroristic threats in an incident where he threatened to burn the apartment of another ex-girlfriend.

Mario Woods—On Dec. 2 San Francisco police responded to a call about a slashing attack. Later that day they shot and killed the alleged perpetrator of that attack Mario Woods, 26, while he was holding a kitchen knife. The shooting occurred after multiple attempts to get Woods to put down the knife and after less-lethal projectiles failed to subdue him. He reportedly said to the officers, "You better squeeze that motherf____r…and kill me." Woods had an extensive criminal record, including a prison stint for armed robbery, and he just randomly slashed somebody on the street the day he was killed. But after loud protests against police, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is treating him like a hero. The supervisors voted in January to make July 22 Mario Woods Day. Which has royally and rightfully pissed off the city's police union.

Ad Loading...

And I have to ask, would the same supervisors have voted a remembrance day for the two black officers involved in the Mario Woods incident if they had been stabbed to death by Woods? Would Black Lives Matter have marched in the streets for those officers?

Of course not. Because from the point of view of anti-police activists, the only black lives that "matter" are those of street criminals killed by police, not the lives of the many African-American officers who protect the public to the point of sacrificing their lives.

You won't find anybody from Black Lives Matter mourning the death of a slain African-American officer like Riverdale, GA, Police Major Greg Barney who was killed helping another agency serve a no-knock warrant on Feb. 11.

Barney, 50, was a 27-year veteran of law enforcement. He left behind a wife and twin 15-year-old sons. More than 2,000 people showed up for his funeral, and there was an outpouring of grief in the Atlanta suburb of Riverdale.

But not one peep was heard from Black Lives Matter. You see, some black lives don't matter at all to these folks, especially the ones dressed in blue.

Subscribe to our newsletter

More Patrol

POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips video series graphic featuring a Garmont Tactical Contact Collection duty boot against a police vehicle with flashing lights. Includes “Watch Now” callout for the video series.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJuly 9, 2026

Garmont Tactical Contact Collection: New Duty Boots for Law Enforcement

Choosing the right duty boot can make a significant difference during long shifts. In this video overview, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, introduces the new Contact Collection, designed specifically for law enforcement professionals seeking comfort, traction, and durability.

Read More →
Benchmade Bailout folding knife with a bronze tanto blade, taiga green handle, and orange accents displayed open against a textured black background, highlighting its lightweight tactical design.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout

Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.

Read More →
Composite image of ADEPT's Nova Titanium tactical helmet, showing front and side views alongside a soldier wearing the helmet in the field, highlighting lightweight ballistic protection for military and tactical applications.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight

Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two healthcare professionals model 5.11 medical scrubs—one in gray and one in blue—against a blurred hospital background, highlighting the brand’s professional apparel for medical workers.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals

The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.

Read More →
Close-up of a black SOG Seal FX knife featuring a commemorative 250th anniversary engraving on the blade, displayed on an American flag to honor the United States' semiquincentennial.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

SOG Knives Unveils 250th Anniversary Limited Edition Fixed Blade

SOG Knives has debuted its 250th Anniversary Limited Edition SEAL FX Fixed Blade, and only 250 are available. It features an advanced 4.3-inch S35VN steel blade and a tough glass-reinforced nylon handle.

Read More →
Close-up of a slim black Streamlight Wedge SL flashlight resting on an olive tactical vest with a black-and-gray American flag patch, its LED illuminated to showcase the compact everyday carry design.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJune 25, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL

The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic recognizing Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose (CA) Police Department as Officer of the Month for May 2026, featuring his uniformed portrait beside a badge-and-rose emblem.
PatrolJune 25, 2026

NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.

Read More →
Promotional image for Garmont Tactical’s Contact Collection featuring black tactical boots displayed in front of a police vehicle with flashing red and blue emergency lights. Text announces the new collection and notes it is now available.
PatrolJune 24, 2026

Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE

Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.

Read More →
Graphic celebrating 1,613 Folds of Honor graduates, featuring graduation books, a diploma, a mortarboard cap, the Folds of Honor logo, and an inset photo of a graduate standing in front of a campus building.
PatrolJune 11, 2026

Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees

Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic for a POLICE Magazine article on Tennessee’s new deadly force law, featuring Lady Justice, handcuffs, a Tennessee map with Nashville highlighted, and the headline “Impact of New Deadly Force Law.”
Patrolby David StephensJune 4, 2026

Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee

Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.

Read More →