03-01-17 Community Relations - Laserfiche WebLink

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Andrew Duncan, P.O. Box 1144, stated, It's more of an economic barrier than a racial barrier, but I know those both coincide with one another. I go to Brew Werks and Chicory but there aren't a lot of things downtown for those that do not have expendable income. To address inclusivity, we also have to address the economics of it. If people don't have expendable income, they aren't going anywhere. Committee Chair Williams-Preston stated, I whole heartedly agree. I know I said earlier that we need to work on race relations,particularly with the police. But with regard to people coming downtown, I agree that plays a giant part. Mr. Duncan replied, In our neighborhood, seeing police officers on foot would help the relationship. It may seem antiquated but it makes it more comfortable to approach and speak to a police officer. Committee Chair Williams-Preston stated, It would help if we saw these cops as human beings. We have to have intentional conversations because I think that would help with understanding one another. Mr. Duncan stated, People are people and at the end of the day,people can be reasoned with. We need to reach a common ground because we are more similar than people like to admit to. Committeemember Randy Kelly stated, Seeing someone like a police officer in jeans and a t- shirt, it's instances like that when people get more comfortable with one another and get to know more about each other. The Police Department is focusing on community-oriented policing. Committee Chair Williams-Preston stated, There has also been discussion about a citizens review board. In 2014 there was a resolution passed to study the possibility of that, but there hasn't been much action on it. If the community is calling for that, how can we engage and what does that look like? James Mueller, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, stated, A lot of responsibility and power lies with the Board of Public safety, appointed by the Mayor. They get to decide the discipline and can actually override the Chief. If we were to change that, it is in State Law and that would need to be changed. And no one wants to be the `bad guy.' The Chief recommends a discipline but then the Board doesn't want to enact that. We have had a Citizen's Advisory Committee where they act as that balancing third party to hold accountable the decision-making of the Board of Public Safety. We would also have to find a right and left side to the discipline. For example, if a random officer were to do something, what does the discipline look like? Committeemember Kelly stated, I really see this discussion as being the exact task this committee is charged with. This is really about these kinds of issues that impact how we all get along. Of course there is some overlap,but the nuts and bolts of getting down on the street and getting people together is what I think this committee is charged with. Mr. Mueller stated, We are also going to release on the website the Open Data for police as part of the White House initiative very soon. It has three (3)key metrics of data like use of force 2