Minutes 07-07-2020 Virtual Listening Session on Policing and Racial Justice in Orange County

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4 Gayane Chambless said Elvira Mebane's comments hit home. She said there are so many issues in play, and her focus is on relationship building as a means for change. She said law enforcement can interact positively with students, and have safe relationships that allow interactions to be more productive. She said the community cannot be so divisive. She said a safety presence is necessary, should an emergency occur, and teachers should not have to be armed. She said she would be open to the reallocation of funds from the police to mental health, etc. She said she would like to provide more training to law enforcement in such areas. She applauded Sheriff Blackwood's vision and efforts thus far. Joseph Verykoukis said Elvira Mebane articulated the importance of SROs being on site at schools. He said Orange County is growing, and defunding law enforcement is a bad idea. He said police keep people safe. Jame Paulen said the idea of reallocating funds for police officers in schools is to put those funds towards school counselors, trained professionals, etc. that help with investing in students mental health, food, etc. She said law enforcement does not always make people feel safe. She said greater resources for mental health needs and relationship building would create a stronger community. She said she is glad the BOCC chose to listen prior to making a plan. Amelia Covington reiterated that defunding the police is asking society to reimagine of what safety could look like. Heather Redding said the criminal justice system is broken, and current practices are not working. She said it is too late for reform, but rather a total change and transformation is needed. She said more prisons and jails are not needed. She said there are communities already doing the work, and the wheel does not need to be reinvented. She said leaders need to listen to the most vulnerable, and those who are most affected by systemic racism. Horace Johnson said if two snakes mate, you will get a snake. He said he has the utmost confidence in Sheriff Blackwood, and his deputies. He said Police officers are protectors, but there are a few that spark some concern for him. He said he would really like to see a thorough screening process involved in hiring police officers. Soteria Shepperson said the reopen NC movement is nonsense, and she was surprised that a cohort of white citizens could walk around with guns and the state gets reopened. She asked what it must feels like to wake up White. She said she has imagined what is must be like to walk without someone following her, or being able to take a run without fear of being shot. She said leaders must be proactive and not reactive, and an area of great concern is guns. Tracy Bell said there must be a bridge built between law enforcement and the community. She said law enforcement needs to be focused on helping people in the community. She said she is a media specialist in Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools, and she would love to see the schools work with law enforcement to partner on positive relationships. Verla Insko said she did not plan to speak, and she has enjoyed listening to the conversation. She said the BOCC is collecting information about the current situation, but these conversations are a starting point for long-term change for the next generation and how they grow up. She looks forward to more social integration. Souna, (she) Culturally Specific Trainer, said Dr. Joy Degruy talks about how past trauma affects a person currently. She said there have been hundreds of years of trauma without mental health care. She said this trauma has never been recognized or healed. She echoed support for reallocation of drug forfeiture funds to Fathers on the Move, as well as the plan outlined by the NAACP. Elizabeth Evans said she had not intended to speak, but has been touched by the positive experiences between SROs and students. She said the core issue is relationship building, which seems to be fostered by the field of mental health and guidance. She agreed with the reallocation of funds for these types of uses. Sophie Suberman said she is glad the BOCC is having this session, and zoom is a hard format to have such a listening session. She said relationship building is important, not only