The marches for action events in Minneapolis, Atlanta and across the nation have created an inflection point in our history. Regardless of where we are as a County and a people, what changes we have previously made, or how well we are doing – all of us want to do better, in terms of police-community relations and in overall racial equality.

After a previous tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri, President Obama formed the Task Force for 21st Century Policing. Our former DeKalb Public Safety Director was a member of the task force and DeKalb County implemented many of the recommendations.

However, now would be a good time to reexamine the Task Force recommendations and to take stock in what we have accomplished and what more we need to do. Specifically, the question of militarization of police forces nationally provides us with an opportunity to talk about this historic relationship, to see how far we have gone and if training can turn it around. To view The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing click here.

I have requested that our Public Safety Department help us begin these discussions with our Board and Administration.  The Employee Relations and Public Safety Committee will begin this during the next ERPS meeting on Tuesday, June 16th, at 2:15 PM which can be accessed on the DCTV’s webpage.

I thank all the women and men in DeKalb County’s Public Safety for the work they do. This was already a very difficult time that it has gotten harder.

As to the Confederate Monument at the DeKalb History Center in the Decatur Square, we have previously tried to move it within the confines of the State Law with no success. Every year we have advocated with the General Assembly to change the law to give local governments the authority to remove/relocate such monuments.  We commissioned history professionals to create the historic context and meaning of the monument which has been erected next to it, and we support the NAACP Lynching Monument Project that includes the recent monument erected at the DeKalb Courthouse.

We realize that the Confederate monument is a visual reminder of the racist history of our community and is offensive to many, but we are not going to break the law.  It is my understanding that creative options are continuing to be explored.

DeKalb, let’s continue to march towards justice and equality!