Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
26 <br /> 1 BACKGROUND: <br /> 2 Commissioners Mark Dorosin and Mark Marcoplos recently shared the attached resolution with <br /> 3 other Board members and suggested the Board might want to discuss this topic and potential <br /> 4 consideration of the attached resolution. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 Commissioner Dorosin said the resolution speaks for itself, and the Board should take a <br /> 7 vote and make a commitment. He said it is critical that the Board take a position on whether or <br /> 8 not it wants to do this. <br /> 9 Commissioner Dorosin read the resolution: <br /> 10 <br /> 11 A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A COMMUNITY PUBLIC FORUM TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF <br /> 12 POLICING AND RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY IN ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 13 WHEREAS, the residents of Orange County, North Carolina are committed to discussing and <br /> 14 addressing issue of structural racism, inclusion, racial equity, and the continuing legacy of racial <br /> 15 segregation and discrimination in this community; and <br /> 16 <br /> 17 WHEREAS, on June 2, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners adopted "A Resolution <br /> 18 denouncing the murder of George Floyd and addressing the health director's declaration of <br /> 19 structural racism as a "public health crisis" in Orange County" and committed to working to <br /> 20 dismantling structural racism; and <br /> 21 <br /> 22 WHEREAS across the nation local governments and the communities they represent are <br /> 23 engaging in a wide-ranging review of police policies and practices in light of these tragic events, <br /> 24 and <br /> 25 <br /> 26 WHEREAS Orange County places a high priority on community engagement, participation, and <br /> 27 transparency; and <br /> 28 <br /> 29 WHEREAS unlike municipalities in our state, which directly control their police departments, the <br /> 30 Sheriff is an independently elected official under the North Carolina Constitution and the <br /> 31 Sheriff's Office is an independent county agency, but by this resolution seeks it's partnership in <br /> 32 addressing these issues. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners will <br /> 35 conduct a community public forum to discuss issues of policing and racial justice and equity in <br /> 36 Orange County, and <br /> 37 <br /> 38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners will request <br /> 39 that the Sheriff and the Sheriff's Office be a full and equal partner with the BOCC in planning, <br /> 40 organizing, and leading the forum. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 This, the 16t" Day of June, 2020. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Commissioner Dorosin said Orange County is not a city, and the Sheriff is not their <br /> 45 Board's employee. He said it is incumbent of this Board to do this. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Marcoplos <br /> 48 for the Board to approve the resolution calling for such a community policing forum. <br /> 49 <br />