Matthew Durfresne wrote:
>I have also had a couple of people ask me to describe what my idea of
>community policing is or means. I believe that the essence of community
>policing is whatever a given community makes it. So if we were to take
>some of the given responses to my question we would have a police dept.
>that was paid more, that was more interactive with the community and
>also held much more accountable for their conduct, whose members were
>encouraged to live in the city of Minneapolis, who had better training,
>who got out of their cars more to speak to residents (if the residents
>felt comfortable enough and I think they eventually would with this new
>model), that there were more beat cops walking alone, etc...My point
>being that we can and should be able to make it into something that
>serves our given needs.
I suppose I feel the need to keep posting because I am a city
council candidate who has experienced police brutality, although admittedly
to a lesser degree than many people. I don't want the police getting out of
their cars to talk to me. I don't want them pulling me over in my taxi as
they have been doing lately "just to make sure everything is legal." I don't
want to encounter them and because of my own experiences with the family of
Efrain Depaz and other victims of police brutality, I often find myself
reluctant to call them, even when there is a need, and I'm not sure
I want the police getting out of their cars to "say hi and get to know me."
I think the only way is to really drive it home that our taxes pay for
police protection, therefore they should look at ALL of us as the people
that employ them. The other touchy thing is the residency requirement. I
think Matthew is right on that we as a city should make it more attractive
for police who live in Minneapolis, but for those of us who are mistrustful
of authority, it is disturbing to have the government deciding where someone
should live. Most candidates have at this time said "I know most of the
cops are good," but I have always had a history of mistreatment and
harrassment and who knows why (I have long hair, I'm a taxi driver, my first
name, etc., none of these justify this sort of treatment.) I understand
that in that uniform is a human being that works in difficult conditions,
and as such deserves a lot more money than she or he makes and more
advancment opportunities, but until I started running for the city council I
had never had a positive experience with the Minneapolis Police. As a
council member I would work with law enforcement on some things, but as a
private citizen I would prefer to limit my contact.
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| Tamir Nolley
| Candidate for Mpls City Council, Ward 6
| Independence Party Endorsed
| Hop on the Nolley Trolley !
| http://www.nolleytrolley.org/
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