Panel: Relations between city police, African Americans good, but work needed

By Nancy McCleary, The Fayetteville Observer
Original article HERE

The relationship between Fayetteville residents and its Police Department is far better than in some places, but there’s still work to be done.

That was the consensus of a panel of law enforcement officers, community leaders, scholars and students who gathered for a Coffee with a Cop forum on the campus of Fayetteville State University.

Panelists included Fayetteville police Chief Gina Hawkins; FSU campus police Chief Renarde Earl; Dr. Eric See, associate professor of Justice Studies at Methodist University; Dr. Karen McElrath and Dr. Michael DeValve, FSU criminal justice professors; community leaders Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin and Adam Beyah; and Westover High School principal Vernon Lowery.

Two FSU students and one from Methodist University also sat on the panel.

The discussion, including questions from those in the audience, covered a variety of topics relating to law enforcement practices as they related to the community; how officers handle “implicit bias” against African Americans; what kinds of training they receive; and specific police practices.

The majority of the conversation dealt with how officers interact with African Americans and whether the issues facing lawmen — cynicism, bias and distrust — on a national level are happening in Fayetteville.

Colvin, who grew up in Fayetteville, said that as a teenager, he viewed police as “the enemy.

“Growing up, as a young black man, I’ve been profiled,” he said.

One step that can be taken, Colvin said, was for police officers and the community to get more familiar with each other. In doing so, it can help break down mistrust on both sides.

There were questions about what type of training officers receive, especially in areas of conflict resolution and the use of excessive force.

“We have constant training and awareness of mental health issues,” Hawkins said. “Being aware of different types of personalities and generations makes officer more well-trained.”

Earl, who took over the FSU police chief position in August, said training is something that is ongoing.

“One of the first things I asked the personnel in this department is to let me see the training records. I want to see what type of training they’ve had,” he said.

There were questions about the use of excessive force by officers and when force is needed.

“If we have one hand on someone,” Hawkins said, “ there is no need for us to take it to another level.”

Fayetteville officers are trained in using hand tactics, but are equipped with pepper spray, Taser guns and ASP batons, she said.

“We have a lot of things, but whatever force is needed to stop the action, it shouldn’t be extreme.”

There was discussion about the media’s role and how, in some cases, there appeared to be a bias against African Americans.

Social media also has become a platform for young people to show others exactly what happens in an encounter with police with applications such as Facebook Live.

“The main media doesn’t tell things right,” Beyah said. “Most of the young people believe Facebook. If people want to drive the races apart, social media is it.”