Tuesday, January 27, 2015
6:00 – 8:00pm
Columbus Public Library,
3000 Macon Road, Auditorium
Speakers
Major Freddie Blackmon, Columbus Police Department
Marshal Greg Countryman
Sheriff John Darr
Facilitator
Theresa El-Amin, Regional Director, Southern Anti-Racism Network
The three law enforcement officers were asked to provide a brief history of their agencies and to describe programs initiated to promote positive community relations with law enforcement.
At the tribute to Shirley B Winston on December 31, Chief Boren mentioned that twenty-five (25) Columbus Police officers have been killed in the line of duty since CPD began keeping records. Participants at the forum will saw the names of all 25 fallen members of the Columbus Police Department from 1874 to 2013.
Fountain City Poetry Slam artists – Black Fist and Unique brought spoken word on the timely topic of community and law enforcement.
Community policing and the effectiveness of body cameras were addressed by speakers and attendees familiar with police training requirements and proposals for reforms of police agencies.
The forum was organized by the Columbus steering committee of the Southern Anti-Racism Network (SARN): Kwabena Ali, Russell Chambers, Theresa El-Amin, Tom Graves, Alberta Hardy, Natasha Hardy, Cathy Hawkins, Wandra Jordan, Stella Mendoza, Hilda Perez and Katherine White.
The event was free and open to the public.
Contact: pssarn@aol.com or 762-821-1107