Final answer:
The history of policing has shown instances of racist policies. Reducing racial tension involves comprehensive reform, community engagement, and equitable policies. Responsibility for these changes is shared by policymakers, law enforcement, and community members alike.
Step-by-step explanation:
The history of policing has, at various times, reflected racist policies. This can be traced both historically and in more contemporary examples such as the shootings of unarmed Black individuals like Michael Brown. Racial tension may be reduced by addressing and reforming policing practices, but that alone is not enough. Key policies and practices to reduce tension include comprehensive police reform, community engagement, and redefining public safety to be more inclusive and equitable. Accountability also plays an important role where everyone, from policymakers to law enforcement to community members, bears responsibility in promoting justice and fairness.
To effectively reduce racial tension, it is crucial to implement policies like better training for bias awareness, the use of body cameras to ensure transparency, and community-based policing wherein police officers are part of the communities they serve, building trust and understanding. Legislative and policy changes, alongside a cultural shift within police departments, are needed to ensure that actions against racial minorities are not driven by bias but by fair and equitable application of the law.