Agenda - 09-01-20; 8-a - Minutes

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25 1 Commissioner Marcoplos said he may not have used the word forum in his conversation 2 with Sheriff Blackwood, but he talked about the need for a community process, and did lead the 3 conversation by saying that the Sheriff had a lot of experience to share. He said more people 4 want to engage this conversation, and Orange County is not Minneapolis. He said what Sheriff 5 Blackwood has been talking about tonight is so important. He said so many residents are 6 uninformed about what is currently being done, and this is the moment not to be missed, and 7 they owe it the community to have this discussion now. 8 Sheriff Blackwood said they just need to keep moving forward. 9 Chair Rich thanked Sheriff Blackwood for coming to speak tonight and sharing with the 10 Board. She said she and the Sheriff do often come from different perspectives, but all can work 11 together regardless. 12 Commissioner Price said Sheriff Blackwood has been open and out in the community, 13 and she is wondering why a forum is needed. She said she has held two community forums in 14 the past, and Sheriff Blackwood always joined. She said a resolution was totally unnecessary, 15 and it was just a matter of calling the Sheriff, and he was always available. 16 Commissioner Bedford said the Sheriff's department and Caitlin Fenhagen, Criminal 17 Justice Resource Director, are instrumental in the behavioral health committee in Orange 18 County. She said she knew of SROs in the schools but until she became a Commissioner, she 19 has learned so much more. She shared a personal story about her daughter. She said the 20 community needs to know all that the Sheriff's Department is involved in within the community. 21 Commissioner Dorosin said the purpose of the resolution is for the Orange County 22 Board of Commissioners to go on record that it wants to have a community forum that is 23 sponsored by the BOCC, and held in collaboration with the Sheriff. 24 Commissioner McKee said he usually does not engage in social media except to find 25 out what is going on in his community. He said last week he saw a picture and video of a 26 military vehicle, which was completely inaccurate and ill informed. He said the Sheriff has a 27 vehicle that is not like the one in the video, and he asked if the Sheriff would clarify the vehicle 28 that his department currently has. 29 Sheriff Blackwood said his department has a mine resistant, armored personnel carrier, 30 an MRAP, which is stripped down. He said it is a defensive tool that been used three times: a 31 high water rescue in Chapel Hill, where the vehicle was ultimately not needed; in Carrboro, 32 where an armed subject had been in a house for about 12 hours and the Sheriff's department 33 was called to get the gentleman out of the home and get him to safety and services; and the 34 third time it was needed was a high water rescue in the eastern part of the state, but was never 35 used. He said there is no weaponry on the vehicle, and it is to deploy deputies in a safe 36 manner. 37 Commissioner McKee said it is like his own two-ton truck he has on his farm; a high 38 water truck. 39 40 RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the report from 41 Sheriff Blackwood, and be apprised of this information. 42 43 44 b. Discussion on a Potential Community Forum Regarding Policing and Racial 45 Justice and Equity in Orange County 46 The Board discussed and considered voting to approve a potential community forum 47 regarding policing and racial justice and equity in Orange County and a resolution calling for 48 such a forum. 49 Commissioner Dorosin and Commissioner Marcoplos presented this item: 50