Black leaders speaking at the Press Club of Baton Rouge today outlined policy solutions to issues that have been exposed over the past month as violence rocked the city, calling for community policing practices, residency requirements for officers and economic development in north Baton Rouge, among other proposals.
The four-member panel—composed of state Rep. Ted James and Sen. Regina Barrow, both Baton Rouge Democrats; The Rouge Collection publisher Gary Chambers; and The Rev. Joe Connelly of the Wesley United Methodist Church—largely agreed on how to begin solving racial tensions surrounding policing and a blighted north Baton Rouge they say forces people like Alton Sterling to sell CDs at night because of the lack of opportunity.
Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was killed by two police officers on July 5, prompting protests and outcry from politicians and community leaders. Weeks later, a lone gunman shot and killed three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers, wounding three others.
“I didn’t see signs that said ‘pray for Baton Rouge’ when Alton Sterling was killed,” Chambers said.
“What happened to our police officers was wrong,” James added. “But we cannot allow what happened to those officers to overshadow what happened to Mr. Sterling.”
The four speakers called for community policing, where officers become ingrained in the community and familiar with residents in specific neighborhoods, to prevent situations like Sterling’s death from happening.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie and State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson were invited but could not make today’s meeting.
Police officials have said their departments do not have the money for community policing, which takes more manpower. James said the Legislature rejected many revenue-raising measures that would have supported those programs, but indicated local governments can improve police-community relations through local revenue or discussions between community organizations.
Chambers also chided the Metro Council for disallowing a discussion on residency requirements, which would require police officers to live in the areas they serve, at last week’s council meeting.
He also suggested that a citizen review board should be created to allow citizens to make policy changes within government agencies. Police unions, he added, have “too much power” and influence over politicians.
Barrow indicated she and other leaders would be willing to ride along with rank-and-file police officers to expand dialogues beyond department leaders. She called community policing “low-hanging fruit” that should be quickly implemented.
Economic development in north Baton Rouge, a predominantly black and impoverished area, was also suggested, along with increasing the diversity of discussions about Baton Rouge issues.
But James highlighted the deep tensions between members of the community that have long existed, as well as the difficulty of solving racially charged problems.
“We can’t legislate matters of the heart,” he said. “We can’t legislate morality.”
—Sam Karlin
