I Thursday night's 3rd Precint CODEFOR update and report at the new and beautiful YWCA at 2121 East Lake Street. The room was full nearly to capacity with community members, officers, civilian MPD employees, and city & county members of the criminal justice family. The headliners were Mayor Sayles Belton and Police Chief Olson. The first hour and ten minutes were filled with reports from the Mayor, Chief and other city/county/MPD representatives defining Codefor (an information management system) and its successes. The last 35 minutes were spent taking questions from the assembly. I liked that part best. One citizen, a teacher, gave a chilling and eye-opening report about the inadequate level of preparation in our schools for a *Columbine-like* situation and requested action. I opened my remarks with a message of gratitude to the Mayor and Chief for helping transform my neighborhood from a war zone to a thriving community. The concern I discussed was about inappropriate police aggression. I see it myself and hear of it often. It ranges from police officers shouting profanities on the loudspeakers of their squad cars in our neighborhoods, to the mishandling of suspects which results in costly out-of-court settlements, to even more tragic situations. I asked both the Mayor and Chief to address specifically how they plan to correct this problem of inappropriate aggression. Chief Olson said that the police *weren't naive* about what was going on and he had a message that citizens who felt mistreated should utilize the Civilian Review Authority. The Mayor spoke well and at length about where the buck stops. Though both acknowledged a problem and their responsiblilty, neither offered many solutions. I approached Mayor Sayles Belton after the meetng and offered my help in exploring ways of rejuvenating MPD/Citizen trust by partcipating in any forum or discussion on the topic. For me the most distressing part of the evening was reported to me by one of my supporters there. She took part in a conversation where a MPD officer was criticising CM Herron for not being present. When my supporter mentioned my name to the officer he responded, "Oh, the one that doesn't like the police." For the record, so far I like every MPD officer I've ever met. To me the police are a welcome part of our city, but I don't think that the MPD is above reproach. I am saddened by this attitude of *for us or against us* that so often comes from city departments and City Hall. Hopefully we can all work together to help build a healthy and beautiful city. Yours, Robert Lilligren Candidate for City Council Ward 8, Phillips West www.VoteRobert.com _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
