[RP TownTalk] Having a Town Meeting Re Police & Residents Relations?

[Mary Wheatley]

Thank you to everyone for your responses.

I should clarify that I am not suggesting that we have problems with
police relations in Riverdale Park. My hope is to open up a town-wide
dialogue about an issue that is currently on the minds of many people
in our country and relevant to every town in America. I was reflecting
on the events in Ferguson and wondering how we can turn the media
storm into a positive outcome nationwide. If every town in America
took this opportunity to take a step back and consider their own
police-resident relations, we could all feel safer and stronger in
community.

I am limited to my own rare experiences with the police. Frankly, I do
not know much about what the relations are like in this town outside
of my own interactions, and I have no reason to believe they are
negative. I'm interested in hearing what my neighbors think of the
relations in our town - good or bad. It's something worth talking
about and I'd like to see a forum where everyone in our community has
a chance to express their feelings.

I plan to reach out to the police, council members, and my Ward 2 rep.

Thank you.


On Sun, Aug 24, 2014 at 6:35 AM, Bruce Wernek <bruce.wernek at verizon.net> wrote:
> Mary
>
> I think the best thing you could do is to wait for the facts to be revealed
> regarding the incident in Ferguson.  Thus far, all I've heard is what Wilson
> did to Brown.  I haven't heard much about much about what Brown did to
> Wilson.  It's not the 50s anymore although the media would like you to
> believe so.  I attended the PG County citizens police academy (thanks Chief
> Morris) and it was enlightening.  The protocols associated with any police
> shooting are comprehensive and thorough.  I am certain this incident will be
> thoroughly investigated and I'm confident that truth will come out
> (eventually).
>
> I think Darrel Wilson is a lot like any one of us.  I don't know what
> happened, but I'll bet he did the best he could under the circumstances.
> I'm sure the Ferguson police department is mourning the loss of Michael
> Brown and tragic circumstances that resulted in that loss.
>
> Bruce
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
> [mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of Mary Wheatley
> Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2014 11:44 AM
> To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
> Subject: [RP TownTalk] Having a Town Meeting Re Police & Residents
> Relations?
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I'm new to town talk, though I've lived in RP for three years now!
> I'm wondering if there are any community events, meetings, etc planned in
> the aftermath of the shooting death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, MO, or if
> people would be interested in organizing one.  I would like to see our town
> have a discussion about police and resident relations, how to build a
> stronger community across possible racial divides, and how to be respectful
> of one another.  Some of these may sound vague, and I'm not exactly sure how
> to go about organizing something like this, but this is too important of an
> issue affecting our whole country to let the opportunity of community
> discussion and action pass us by.
>
> I would greatly appreciate people's thoughts, and I hope to have some
> constructive conversations about this.
>
> In community,
>
> Mary, on Somerset Rd.
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