Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 7-19-16 Online Edition

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Community-Police Forum Held To Discuss What Needs To Be Done
FRED HEARNS
REV. THOMAS SCOTT
MAJOR WILLIE PARKER
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Tampa citizens gathered last week at the city’s oldest African American church, not for Bible study, but to discuss the state of the relationship between Black residents and police.
Last Thursday’s forum at Beulah Baptist Institutional Church was a continuation of a conversation started the day before at City Hall at a meet- ing called by City Councilman Frank Reddick between pastors and members of local law enforcement.
Both events were in re- sponse to the killings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La., and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn., at the hands of police officers, that led to the shooting of five Dal- las police officers by a sniper.
The church forum was open to the public and many citizens were quick to offer their insight on how relations between the Black community and the agencies that police it can be improved.
Some citizens pointed to a lack of familiarity between Black residents and police of- ficers may be to blame for the uneasiness. A few suggested that a return to old-fashioned policing strategies, such as of- ficers walking or biking their beats, may help bridge that gap.
“They need to get out of the car,” said Rev. Willie Dixon, founder of COACH Foundation.
Also, the hire of more
Blacks and fewer military vet- erans is needed, he said.
Another attendee sug- gested that hiring practices in- clude a more thorough check of a potential officer’s back- ground also is needed, along with psychological testing and bias and diversity training.
Those trainings are critical to fostering good relations be- tween Black residents and the police officers who patrol their neighborhoods, said Rev. Thomas Scott, pastor of 34th Street Church of God.
“You cannot police a com- munity, if you fear that com- munity,” he said.
A resurrection of commu- nity-police workshops also is needed, said city historian, Fred Hearns.
More than 600 residents participated in the workshops, which provided them and law enforcement officers an op- portunity to get to know one another, he said.
Funded by both the city and the state, the workshops were a priority until they ceased a decade ago.
“We need to bring back (the workshops),” he said.
Hearns also cautioned against sidelining members of the Black Lives Matter move- ment from partaking in cur- rent discussion about race relations.
“We can ignore Black Lives Matter all we want, but they’re getting stronger and louder and they’re not going away,” he said. “It’s not us against them.”
But making demands from law enforcement is just one
piece of the puzzle, said Freddy Barton, director of operations for the Community Development Corporation of Tampa.
“No one can improve the community like the commu- nity,” he said. “We talk about what we want from law en- forcement, but we don’t talk about what we want from our- selves.”
Future discussions must “focus on solutions and the ‘now what?’,” Barton said.
Maj. Willie Parker of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, said his de- partment’s Community Out- reach Division has worked to develop a relationship with Black residents and leaders through its many programs and initiatives, which includes a Hispanic and a African American advisory boards.
Tampa police officers have received training on de-esca- lation techniques and how to interact with the mentally ill, said Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward.
“Having officers instructed on how to engage the commu- nity and have constructed di- alogue is how we move forward,” he said.
The genesis for change, however, must begin with the city’s top leader leading the charge, said local business- man Rob Kantor.
“I want the mayor to...rally up all his contacts and come together at meetings like this,” he said. “Not just the Black pastors, not just the Black politicians, but all of the city.” (Photos by BRUNSON)
Woman Killed In Head-On Collision
A 31-year-old Tampa woman was killed in a head on collision early Sunday morn- ing. The accident was investi- gated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Police said Ms. Esther Jean, of Tampa, was driving a 2002 Toyota Camry westbound on Broadway Avenue, ap- proaching Falkenburg Road. Jacob Robin Albaraccin, 21, of Brandon, was driving a 2011 Toyota Camry eastbound on Broadway Avenue.
Albaraccin was reportedly traveling about 70 miles per hour when his vehicle crossed the double yellow line and struck Ms. Jean’s vehicle in a head on collision.
Police said Ms. Jean died instantly and Albaraccin had to be cut out of his vehicle and transported to Tampa General Hospital.
His condition was unknown at press time. A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County
MS. ESTHER JEAN
Sheriff’s Office said the investi- gation is continuing and charges are possibly pending.
The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office said the family had not selected a funeral home for Ms. Jean at press time.
Traffic Accidents Claim Lives Of 3 People
Three individuals were killed in unrelated traffic acci- dents. One of the accidents in- volved a pedestrian who had just stepped off a bus.
Last Thursday, the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Office investigated two accidents. The first accident occurred around 5:45 p.m.
behind the bus, she was struck by a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Benjamin Wood, 20, of Tampa.
Police said Wood was trav- eling at about 45 miles per hour and was unable to take evasive action. Ms. Perdue died as a result of her injuries.
Boza & Roel Funeral Home
is in charge of handling
arrangements for Ms. Per-
due.
On Friday afternoon, a 72- year-old man died after he ap- parently pulled into the path of oncoming traffic. The accident took place in Pasco County around 1:30 p.m., at the inter- section of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., and State Road 54.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Thomas A. Burruano, of Wesley Chapel, was driving a 2004 Dodge Stra- tus. He was at the intersection of State Road 54 and State Road 581 when he reportedly pulled off of State Road 54 from a stop sign onto State Road 581.
A 1998 Lincoln Navigator, driven by Kenny Dickinson, 42, of Wesley Chapel, struck the left side of Burruano’s ve- hicle. Dickinson’s vehicle was redirected upon impact and struck the right rear side of a 2016 GMC Yukon driven by William Carney, 72, of San Antonio, Florida.
Burruano died at the scene. No charges are expected to be filed in the accident, po- lice said.
Driver Dies After
Car Catches Afire
Police said a 37-year-old Riverview resident was driving a 2016 Lexus on Falkenburg Road. The vehicle was regis- tered to Gulf Maintenance, Inc., 5851 N. Dale Mabry.
The driver was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed as he reached the intersection of Majestic Magnolia Place and Falkenburg Road. He left the roadway, drove into the me- dian, and struck a tree.
The vehicle subsequently caught on fire while the driver was still trapped inside. He died at the scene.
Police positively identified him through dental records as Anthony Jason Garrido.
Woman Struck By Car After Stepping Off Bus
The second accident last Thursday involved a pedestrian who had just stepped off a HART bus. The bus was travel- ing north on Livingston Avenue and had stopped at 148th Av- enue, where Ms. Danile Per- due exited, at approximately 8:40 p.m.
Police said Ms. Perdue walked to the back of the bus in an effort to cross the Livingston Avenue. As she stepped from
Driver Pulls Into Oncoming Traffic
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016