S2.E17. Black and Blue - What Black Cops Need The Community To Know During This Time Of Social Unrest

Amerikan Therapy sits down with three black male police officers from around the country to understand what their experiences are like in this new social climate. We ask the tough questions regarding seemingly unending cases of unarmed black people being murdered by the police and those acting in a policing capacity. We don't hold back and neither do these black police officers. This episode will have you on the edge of your seat and ready to jump on the Amerikan Therapy virtual couch to weigh in. Get ready to hear both sides of a very tough debate on policing in America.
Keenon M. James serves as Deputy Director for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) where he oversees the organization’s mission to enact and impart fairness in policing and the criminal justice system. Mr. James combines over 15 years of experience and expertise in criminal justice research, public safety policy, and community engagement to address the pressing issues related to community-police relations, civil rights, and the integrity of policing. Prior to joining the leadership team at NOBLE, Mr. James led the team at the US Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Collaborative Reform Initiative which engaged communities and police departments following high profile officer use-of-force incidents including Ferguson, Missouri (Michael Brown), St. Anthony, Minnesota (Philando Castile), North Charleston, South Carolina (Walter Scott), and San Francisco, California (Mario Woods). A graduate of North Carolina Central University, in addition to numerous service awards from local and federal law enforcement agencies, Keenon James has received honors from his alma mater for Excellence in Law Enforcement and the university’s 40 Under 40 alumni award.

Taj Beaufort was born in 1986 in Newark, New Jersey. He completed college with a degree in Public Administration from Virginia State University. Post-college, Taj became a Deputy Sheriff with the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office in the Corrections Division. After serving Loudoun County for three years, Taj transferred to Fairfax County Police Department where he spent seven years doing patrol work and numerous plainclothes assignments. Taj is currently serving as a Detective in the Personnel Division which handles recruiting, background investigations, physical abilities, testing, and more.
Bo Braxton is a husband and a father of two going into his 10th year as a Law Enforcement Officer. Bo has been featured on ABC’s Channel 7 News with Nancy Chen, highlighting Public Safety Personnel who make positive impacts on their community outside of their normal work duties. Bo was recognized for his work as a mentor to at-risk youth in Southeast DC. Most recently, Bo has been working closely with community outreach officers throughout Fairfax county in order to create greater community engagement. Bo's goal is to continue to assist with bridging the gap between police officers and the communities they serve. His passion is motivating young like-minded individuals to consider a career in law enforcement in order to continue to drive positive change.

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