police
I'm going to be a little awkward. There is already a thread about the recent Carrboro and Chapel Hill Police Forums. I will be linking this post to that thread. But I want to set out (at boring length) what I have been advocating for since those Forums. And I don't want to clutter up the entirety of that other thread with my meanderings (as fascinating as I know you will find them!).
As the above link to the forums make clear, a number of us in Carrboro want the establishment of a Citizen's Task Force, to be given the responsibility thoroughly to review policing in Carrboro, and, if thought necessary, make recommendations. I have my own thoughts about what I would like such a Task Force to address. But my main purpose is to help to create the space where citizens of Carrboro may have the opportunity to ensure that the policing approach in their community has their consent.
I set out in more detail here why I think we need a Citizen's Task Force.
This coming Saturday (October 4) and next Monday (October 6), Chapel Hill Police and Carrboro Police respectively, along with representatives from their funding agencies, will be holding Public Forums, at which citizens will be invited to offer thoughts on the way they wish to be policed. I will be unable to attend the Carrboro Forum as I will be working. But I have written a letter to the organizers, a letter which is (amazingly) quite self-explanatory:
"Dear Carrboro Alderpeople, Chief Horton and David Andrews [Carrboro Town Manager],
I understand there is to be a Public Forum on Policing in Carrboro, held on October 6, at 7.00pm. I will not be able to attend, as much as I have expressed interest in this subject.
I am a shift worker, and like most shift workers, I need at least three weeks notice to be able to accommodate events to my work schedule.
In the wake of the President's call to re-examine the militarization of police in the US, I go one step further, and wonder if it is not time now actively to consider disarming front-line police officers?
Chief Carolyn Hutchison is retiring, and Carrboro is looking for input into their selection process for a replacement.
Official Notice - TOC-OFFICIAL-L
Town of Carrboro, NC - Official Announcements
Calling all Carrboro
Residents- The Town of Carrboro and Developmental Associates are
beginning the process to select Carrboro's new Chief of Police. As we
kick things off, the community is invited to attend
a Public Input Session on April 22, 2013 @ 6:00pm at Carrboro Town
Hall. We want to hear your opinions on the challenges our new Chief
might face, and what qualities and competencies you think are important
to look for in the selection process.
Date:
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 6:00pm
Many of us were very disturbed by the Yates Building incident in
Chapel Hill last year and wondered how the police were trained to deal
with public events and demonstrations. How do the police do arrests?
What crime and other public safety issues do we have in Chapel Hill?
Well, here's a chance for you to find out how our officers are trained
and what they do.
For the last
year I've been working with the Community Policing Advisory Committee and the Chapel Hill Police Department to dramatically
revamp its Citizen's Police Academy. The new Academy will give participants an
inside look at the police department and its work. You'll get to operate a
simulator and see what it's like to respond to a domestic call that turns
violent, sit in a squad car, watch the SERT and K9 teams in action, and talk to
the Chief of Police about tough issues. Along the way you'll learn about the
Department's work, how you can help make a safer community and much
more. Participation will involve attending one evening session on April 24 or 25
as well as an afternoon session on Sun. April 28.
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