Dover Police to participate in community forum on police community relations
DOVER, Del. – In just a few weeks, Dover residents will have the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns about their local law enforcement in an open community forum.
“We absolutely need to respect our police officers,” said resident Amy Shockley.
“A person is unarmed and they’re getting beat so it’s something that stays in the mind of people and you lose trust,” said another resident Shawn Sheppard.
On Monday, The Dover Police Department announced that they’ll be hosting a community discussion to help bridge the gap between its police officers and the residents they serve. Members of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives will also attend providing hands on training for the youth.
“We talk to them about how to conduct themselves when they encounter law enforcement, being at a car stop in the street, in their home, we try to encourage them to do certain things so at the end of the day they get home the same way they left,” said NOBEL chapter president Joseph Bryant.
Some residents say conversations like these need to continue in order to build a better relationship between law enforcement and the Dover community.
“What’s relevant is trust. The police have to be able to be trusted by the people and vice versa ,” said Dover resident Steven Hill.
It’s a relationship that residents in Dover say is at an all time low in the city between them and the police department. And they’re hoping this upcoming forum will be filled with more than just empty promises.
“A lot of things that the community is looking for is corrective action. they’re hearing so much from the town and this and state officials that this is going to happen, this is going to happen, and they’re not seeing it,”said Sheppard.
And although they don’t feel like these issues will be solved overnight Dover residents say this forum is a step in the right direction.
Now the forum is scheduled to take place on Thursday September 27th from 6-8 pm. It will be held at the Whatcoat United Methodist Church.
