No matter how much trust a local police force has earned over decades of outreach and training, an incident like the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month can only be seen as a major setback. Communities, particularly those of color, respond to this kind of national tragedy questioning all forms of law enforcement, even those that have been doing the right thing continuously in serving and protecting their towns and counties.
With that in mind, the Spy thought it would be a good time to check in with the region’s top public safety leaders to hear first hand their impressions on the police role in the death of Mr. Floyd, and how they are processing the event and its consequences.
We continue with Kent County Sheriff John Price.
This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more information about the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, please go here.
Mauritz Stetson says
I have know John for over forty years, not only does he say the right thing but he lives and leads his department in that same manner. We are lucky to have him as our sheriff.
Elizabeth Glenn says
I have so much respect for our Kent County,Md. sheriff,John Price…He has personally been involved in so many community events as well as his deputies.I,personally have talked to my grandchildren about always respecting all LEOs.I tell them that they are also our friends,that should they ever have a need for an officer,do NOT be afraid to seek them.unfortunately I have experienced being around other young children that hate the police.I try to talk to them and tell them that police are good ppl and are there to help,not harm them.this is very disturbing to me that children as young as first graders are being taught to hate cops! Children learn what they are experiencing in their homes.And what they hear adults talk about.Parents,please talk to your children .We don’t need a generation coming up that don’t respect our LEOs.And dont label all LEOs on the actions of a select few.this HATE has to STOP !,Let it start with us,the adults..teach our youth to love !
Dean Snyder says
From Christy E. Lopez , a professor at Georgetown Law School and a co-director of the school’s Innovative Policing Program, writing in the June 7, 2020 Washington Post:
Be not afraid. “Defunding the police” is not as scary (or even as radical) as it sounds, and engaging on this topic is necessary if we are going to achieve the kind of public safety we need. During my 25 years dedicated to police reform, including in places such as Ferguson, Mo., New Orleans and Chicago, it has become clear to me that “reform” is not enough. Making sure that police follow the rule of law is not enough. Even changing the laws is not enough.
To fix policing, we must first recognize how much we have come to over-rely on law enforcement. We turn to the police in situations where years of experience and common sense tell us that their involvement is unnecessary, and can make things worse. We ask police to take accident reports, respond to people who have overdosed and arrest, rather than cite, people who might have intentionally or not passed a counterfeit $20 bill. We call police to roust homeless people from corners and doorsteps, resolve verbal squabbles between family members and strangers alike, and arrest children for behavior that once would have been handled as a school disciplinary issue.
Police themselves often complain about having to “do too much,” including handling social problems for which they are ill-equipped. Some have been vocal about the need to decriminalize social problems and take police out of the equation. It is clear that we must reimagine the role they play in public safety.