Preventing another Ferguson

Activists, police working together to curb racial tension

COMMUNITY | Patrick Yeagle

It could happen anywhere. It could even happen here.

The high-profile killings of black men by police in Ferguson, Missouri, and in New York City in the past few months highlight a long-smoldering tension between law enforcement officers and minority populations. Such killings divide communities and feed racial animosity, which is why several Springfield groups and the Springfield Police Department are working to prevent a repeat here.

The Faith Coalition for the Common Good hosted a public meeting Dec. 11 to discuss citizens’ rights and responsibilities when interacting with police. Several Springfield police officers attended the meeting to share their experiences and listen to the concerns of Springfield residents.

Shelly Heideman, executive director of the Faith Coalition, says the event was meant to accomplish two goals: teaching the public how to avoid escalating confrontations with police and creating a mutual respect between police and the public.

“It’s all about relationships,” Heideman said. “We know that neighborhoods that have a good relationship with their community police officer have fewer issues. The neighborhood knows the police officer, and the police officer knows the neighborhood, so there’s an understanding there about each other. When you have a majority-white police force coming into a majority-black neighborhood, relationships are so important.”

The event included screening an informational DVD produced by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), followed by group discussions between residents and police. Heideman says about 150 people participated, including 18 Springfield police officers. The Faith Coalition previously held a prayer vigil following a grand jury decision not to indict the white officer who killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, and the group plans to hold similar events each month indefinitely.

Reggie Dale describes himself as a former gangbanger who became a man of faith and left his old ways behind.

“I was seeing the condition my people were in,” Dale said. “I had to do something about it.”

Now, he’s building an organization called BeefEaterz, which mediates arguments between young people before they turn to violence. Dale says the Faith Coalition event gave him hope that the black community and police can build trust together.

“I never thought I’d be sitting at a table with a police officer discussing this stuff and not being interrogated,” he said with a laugh.

Deputy Chief Daniel Mounce of the Springfield Police Department says his hope by participating in the ongoing discussion was to give the public a better understanding of the police mission and mindset. Mounce says police have to balance their duty – which inevitably means putting themselves in harm’s way – with their sense of survival.

“We have to expect the worst even in situations that may not appear dangerous on the face of it,” he said.

Accordingly, Mounce asked that the public “be patient” with police during interactions.

“We have to feel comfortable with them from an officer’s safety standpoint,” he said. “Sometimes that might seem like us being uncaring or rude, but it has a purpose.”

Roy Williams Jr., chairman of the Faith Coalition’s education task force, recalls growing up in the John Hay Homes during the 1970s. He says the black police officers assigned to the public housing development at the time were well-known and respected in the community. Williams says the police officer assigned to his neighborhood now comes to all of the neighborhood meetings and has a good relationship with the residents, but not every neighborhood is like that. Ultimately, the police department must reflect the community it polices, Williams says.

Just as police may be on edge during traffic stops or other interactions with the public, Williams says black residents often fear what might happen to them in police interactions. He adds that building relationships between police and black residents should prevent those interactions from escalating into violence.

“Fear is a two-way street,” he said. “But so is respect.”

Contact Patrick Yeagle at [email protected].