Johnson Co-Hosts the 2015 Community Policing Summit
ARLINGTON—Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) and Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) co-hosted the 2015 Community Policing Summit with participants from the Texas State Conference of the NAACP. Event special guests included Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) and Congressman Al Green (TX-9).
Amid the rally cries and demonstrations held throughout the nation this morning, local elected officials, pastors, academic scholars, legal advocates and activists from the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex assembled to carve out rules and best practices for preventing tragedies like those seen in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City. Congresswoman Johnson kicked off the daylong event that was conceptualized in an effort to improve the safety and security of communities of color by saying, "law enforcement and members of the larger community must work together to create a "common ground" in America. There is a problem between the police and minority communities throughout the United States."
The goal of the day long summit was to define the criteria for model community policing legislation that will reduce the mounting discourse between communities of color and local law enforcement. The discussion was divided into a series of three panels: "Public Safety: Lessons Learned from Ferguson;" "Building Trust: Identifying Impediments to Peaceful Police-citizen Encounters;" and "Models for Effective Community Policing: Identifying Training Needs and Methods for Improving Community-Police Interaction," that were geared toward increasing community engagement and improving relationships.
"We need to be appreciative of our police," said Congressman Al Green, who referenced legislation he will be proposing in the 114th Congress that would require body cameras to be worn by all police officers. In echoing those sentiments, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and Congressman Marc Veasey stated that relationships between police and members of minority communities must change. "Police represent a safety net," said Congresswoman Jackson-Lee. "All law abiding people should communicate with law enforcement." Following member presentations, attendees voiced their concerns with members of Congress.
"We must work with our elected officials to bring about a climate where there is an active, mutually beneficial relationship between citizens and law enforcement," said Gary Bledsoe, President of the Texas NAACP. In closing remarks Congresswoman Johnson reiterated the importance of these conversations "the problem between the police and minority communities throughout the United States are evident. For the most part, we have great police in our country, the problem is with the one- percent who behaves otherwise.
As a result of today's conversations, I believe we can find a solution."
U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Ovilla, Uptown/Victory Park and West Dallas.