Kerry Myers is in his first year on NorCo Council |
This three-hour meeting, called "Courageous Conversations," was sponsored by NorCo DA Terry Houck, NorCo Council member Kerry Myers, Pa Democratic Black Caucus member Harold Levy and Senior Pastor Philip Davis of Easton's Shiloh Church. This is the second time this group met.
Does Racism Exist?
There are people on both sides of this issue in the community. So it's no surprise that police officers have different views as well.
Roseto Police Chief Brandon Rader denied there's any racism on the part of the officers with whom he works. But he said there is such a thing as good people and bad people. He noted that at times, a black person will claim he is being stopped because of his color. "No, I'm not," he said. "If you're a good person, I'll buy you a meal. I'll put gas in your car."
In stark contrast to Rader, LU Police Chief Jason Schiffer (former Chief of Bethlehem's Police Department) said "[r]acism is alive at LU and in our community."I need to recognize those shortcomings in myself."
Dave Collins, the first black person to become a Captain at Northampton County's jail, relayed his own experience. When he's driving, even if he is in uniform, he immediately gets nervous if he sees a police cruiser. In his mind, he goes over what he'll do if stopped. He noted that at one time, there were no police departments.
There were slave patrols.
False Loyalty
Collins also condemned what he called the "false loyalty" among some police and corrections officers who will back each other when there's a misconduct complaint. "What side of history do you want to be on?" he asked. "I want to be on the right side." This concern was also raised by community member Nicole Cooper, who said there needs to be more accountability. "We need officers who will say, 'That was wrong.'" Shje lamented that 48% of police discipline cases are overturned (I am unable to corroborate that assertion) nut former Easton Police CPT Scott Casterline said that is because those matters are reviewed by an independent arbitrator.
Harold Levy (Black Caucus) and DA Terry Houck |
Almost all agreed that the "Defund the police" mantra is a misnomer. Kerry Myers, NorCo County Council's sole black member, said he prefers to see some funding reallocated to training officers. But Chief Schiffer countered that most police departments are hampered by very tight budgets. He said that when he was Chief in Bethlehem, he at one time had barely enough money to fuel his cruisers.
Terry Houck, who spent a decade as a Philly cop before becoming a prosecutor, echoed Schiffer. Houck said that when he started as a patrolman, Philly had 8,000 officers. When he left the force 10 years later, there were just 6,000. "Defunding the police has been going on for years," he lamented. He said it really hurts the ability of his office to prepare cases for trial.
Do We Need School Resource Officers? (SRO)
John Remaley and Scott Casterline, school resource officers at Easton Area School District, think so. In the wake of the Parkland shootings, they are needed to protect children from a seeming increase in mass shootings. "Most of the time, we are mentors or counselors," he said. He noted that a good SRO is adept at de-escalation, something he learned as a police officer.
Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio said the Lehigh Valley is putting the finishing touches on a new program called "Handle With Care," in which a school is provided with a "heads up" when a child has been subjected to a traumatic event so he can be provided with counseling.
Don't Jump to Conclusions
Chief DiLuzio also recommended that people should refrain from jumping to conclusions when they see only a brief video clip, as happened recentkly in Allentown. "Let's deal with facts," he said.
Fear
Captain Collins expressed the fear he feels when he is driving and sees an officer. But that's a two-way street. Detective Andre Stevens noted that officers are "not punching bags," but should avoid feeling fearful when dealing with someone. "If you got fear in your heart, you should not wear the badge."
Good Trouble
The meeting ended with a video clip of civil rights icon John Lewis, who liked to say "Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." Though officers were told they could leave before the video played, they stayed.
A great guy and not deserving of the abuse his fellow council member has heaped on him. I hope the voters elect the Republican woman and not her.
ReplyDeleteI hope the radicals don't get to Kerry Myers. He's the same kid from Easton. But he's become a forceful, measured statesman who brings a calmness from his experience. I don't agree with him on many issues. But I think he has important things to say regarding race problems. He gets my attention because he's not scapegoating or blaming or posturing. Guys like that get to stand up to everyone on all sides. I'm not sure there's anything like him in this area. I'm becoming more of a fan. And he's right about training. Look into the Texas approach to LEO training - especially regarding dealing with the mentally ill. There's a better way.
ReplyDeleteDetective Andre Stevens stated the following from 69 New, "Andre Stevens, a detective with Northampton County, said police have to walk a difficult line. "We're not here to get our asses kicked," he said, but force must be used with great discretion. "There are legitimate shootings, and there are illegitimate shootings," he said. Stevens, as a person of color, said white America should understand that waiting for real equality is frustrating and patience is wearing thin".
ReplyDeleteFirst off as a Law Enforcement Officer he should be neutral and not take a side, second his statement WHITE AMERICA, NOW THATS RACIST, Could you imagine if someone not of color made that statement that we are tired and our patience is wearing thin, well mine is. Stop making everything about race, last time I checked we all stand under the flag of our Country and we all are Americans. I truly hope our new DA disciplines Detective Stevens, his role as Police is not to be bias and he has crossed that line. I have lost all respect for the DAs Office unless this employee is disciplined, maybe at the next meeting we can gather and confront him with 69 News recording. Freedom of speech does not apply to Law Enforcement working under their office, police cannot be bias.
Sincerely, a person of non color who has hit the line of disgusted. WW
Do we need SROs? Isn't that what the asst principal takes care of? Ostensibly an educator who is tasked with addressing troubled children. Too many SROs are knuckle-dragging thugs. They turn what is supposed to be an environment for learning into a gulag. The last 50 years of progressive education has established children as little adults with free thinking, innovative minds ready to take on life's responsibilities at younger and younger ages. Now that such idiocy has created islands straight out of the Lord Of The Flies, we are expected to apparently get cops off the street and into schools. Our education system already suffers the effects of misguided experimentation. Compounding the problem is not the answer.
ReplyDelete"A great guy and not deserving of the abuse his fellow council member has heaped on him. I hope the voters elect the Republican woman and not her"
ReplyDeleteThis comment makes no sense. The drinking should start after 5 pm, not before 5 am.
Andre is not being racist but realistic.
ReplyDeleteIf a white cop said the black america needs to get over it he would be fired.
ReplyDelete@7:12 - Jeezuz - quit your whining you pathetic little puss. Read some books, get some perspective and have a fucking clue about the world and country you live in. Quite possibly the most misinformed and dimwitted post in the history of this blog. Being offended by the term White America is the absolute height of thin skinned whimpiness. YOU are clearly a part of the problem we have here... "Whaaaa, other people want advantages that I've always had and done little with, whaaa, its not fair!" Candy ass.
ReplyDelete10:41 AM
ReplyDeleteVery convincing and mature argument.
You must have gone to Eton.
I think the detective has insight to why this keeps happenning: "If you got fear in your heart, you should not wear the badge."
ReplyDelete@ 10:41, Steven's should have left color out of it speaking as a detective, the more people that read his statement are moving even further to the right, so I must thank him and so will Trump for the extra votes. WW
ReplyDeleteLook around you. In the Seventh Cavalry, we got a captain from the Ukraine. Another from Puerto Rico. We've got Japanese, Chinese, blacks, Hispanics, Cherokee Indians, Jews and gentiles — all Americans. Now, here in the States, some men in this unit may experience discrimination because of race or creed. But for you and me now, all that is gone. We're moving into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, where you will watch the back of the man next to you, as he will watch yours. And you won't care what color he is or by what name he calls God.
ReplyDeleteWell Terry Houck will loose a ton of votes over his detective on his next run.
ReplyDeleteBusinesses CANNOT make insurance claims on losses from covid-19 closures, however fire insurance does cover losses due to fire.
ReplyDeleteIf you have insurance and your business is failing do to Covid-19, donate to BLM maybe you can get on the "Good Trouble" list.
A car dealership having difficulty in an forced economic downturn could have an excellent night selling all his lemons to his insurance company.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/lines-cars-scorched-wisconsin-riots-054520920.html
The owners on Rodeo Drive were way ahead on this, and saved by BLM burn outs and looting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDjqVHHkYr0
"Slave Patrols" became and industry to save those who OWN from their losses, I suspect "Good Trouble" will do the same, as in these two among thousands of examples.
I have lost all respect for the DAs Office unless this employee is disciplined, maybe at the next meeting we can gather and confront him with 69 News recording.
ReplyDeleteBy, "we", you mean somebody else. Take the lead. Be at the next meeting and confront him for expressing his honest view of a black man in law enforcement.
10:41 AM is a candy ass.
ReplyDeleteRemember Ross Perot??
How about taking a knew when law enforcement attempt to serve a warrant. Not fight and try to get into your car. And if the police are yelling, "Drop the knife", maybe there's more to it. Sort of like lebron said. "Ya'll wonna know why......"