Contrasts in law enforcement leadership

Two news stories in today's Washington Post were about different as possible.

One story reported that a black male caregiver/therapist, while trying to assist an autistic patient sitting in the road, was shot by police as he lay on the ground with his hands up per their directions.  (Shot while laying on the ground)
  
The other story reported that a white police officer was filmed dancing up a storm at a cookout organized by the police for Black Lives Matter (BLM) protestors.  (Dancing policeman)

The contrast between the two stories could not be more stark in my mind.

Stipulating that the investigation into the shooting is ongoing, the accompanying cell phone video is telling.  One white male is sitting in the road.  One black male is laying on his back in the road, with hands up, attempting to explain the situation to the police.  The black male is subsequently shot in the leg by the police (not in the video).

A community police chief reached out to the BLM protest organizers with the idea of the cookout.  The police were there in uniform, armed, just as they are when on the streets.  No false pretense.  Protestors and police happily and peacefully interacted.  

The one cookout will not correct all problems everywhere, but the creativity demonstrated by the Wichita police chief indisputably illustrates that leadership matters.  At the same time, I have to wonder aloud about the possibly failed police leadership in North Miami, where the shooting occurred.

Some of the leadership responsibilities for the police should include rigorous, adequate and thorough screening (including psychological) of those seeking to wear the badge; providing comprehensive, realistic, stressful, demanding, and regularly/constantly repeated training based on the highest standards (maybe modeled after the Marine Corps Mojave Viper pre-deployment training) for officers in how to manage potentially violent encounters; regularly and rigorously re-screening and re-evaluating all officers; and regular community interaction.

For all I know, the above leadership responsibilities are being met.  But I am skeptical, particularly when learning of events in which it appears officers from small town police forces are involved.  Sadly, the skepticism comes from an understanding that screening, training, and the like are expensive and most (if not all) small town police agencies simply do not have the financial resources necessary to provide these.  Even large forces would likely require considerably more resources.

In any case, in any locale, in any law enforcement agency, leadership must step up.