Community Participates in Asheville Policing Efforts
implementation process. Photo: Urban News
By Johnnie Grant
As part of a strategic planning process that will outline primary goals and objectives for the next three years, leaders of the Asheville Police Department met with the community at the Wesley Grant Center to gain knowledge of specific policing concerns. The event was facilitated by consultants Harry Dolan, retired police chief of Raleigh, and Willie Williams, former chief of the Wilson, NC, Police Department.
The APD has been plagued recently with numerous complaints from the public, as well as complaints from patrol officers who claim to be under duress over their ability to perform their jobs. Most recently, community-wide skepticism of APD sparked criticism over the acquittal of four APD officers during an April, 2013 tasing incident on the grounds of the Pisgah View apartment complex.
As attendees began to form into small groups, one participant (who asked not to be identified) pointed out the window. “What do you see? Look at all the police cars surrounding us with their blue lights flashing—you would think something terrible is happening in here. This would never happen in a white community. This is very disheartening and a slap in the face. I’m very humiliated. Is this cultural sensitivity?”
James “Cherokee” Harrison spoke about the forum, but stressed the importance of police training, stating, “I think this is a good beginning, but (a police) candidate needs to know more about the requirements before he or she is admitted to the academy.”
He added, “I remember most people were asked, ‘Why do you want to be a police officer?’ and their acceptance was predicated on their answers. Is that happening now? What psychological and diversity training is happening now, and how long is that training? Who knows what the APD policies and procedures are for training? Another thing, there was a civil-service board or commission that participated in matters of the community. All APD candidates were bought before this (civil service) board. I would like to see that happen again,” Harrison concluded.
At the end of the forum “cultural sensitivity” rated high on the list of concerns from every group participating. Also included on the list of strategies to implement were: less stereotyping, more diversity within the agency (hiring more African American officers), civilian liaisons in neighborhoods, a stringent disciplinary process for officer’s misconduct, and more youth forums.
Asheville Police Chief William Anderson thanked the participants for their input, and asked that they continue to contribute to the roadmap that will guide the future of the Asheville Police Department.
