Panel gathers to discuss issues, concerns of policing among black community

Additional cultural competency training is warranted for Las Vegas police officers.

So said one of nearly 25 Las Vegans gathered Saturday morning at the West Las Vegas Arts Center to discuss critical issues and concerns surrounding policing among the African-American community in the Las Vegas Valley.

Douglas Garner of North Las Vegas said he would like police to receive such training.

“Police don’t take one or two shooting training courses, and cultural competency isn’t something you can do once or twice,” he said. “It should be an ongoing thing that takes place to identify who is a threat, who isn’t and how to act accordingly.”

East Las Vegas resident Dora LaGrande said she would like police to receive regular fair and impartial training so officers can treat everyone equally.

“The training sessions should be made public so we know it’s going on,” she said. “If an incident happens with an officer, the police can list all the training the officer received. It’s a good way for the police to police the police and give the community an opportunity to police the police as well.”

The meeting was hosted by the Sheriff’s African-American Advisory Council, which was established in February by Metro Capt. William Scott, commander of Bolden Area Command. It was the council’s first meeting.

The African-American Advisory Council aims to promote communication and improve the relationship between the city’s African-American residents and the Metropolitan Police Department, according to council Chairwoman Tenesia Wesley.

“We’ll take the issues, challenges and trends the community is seeing and hearing back to the sheriff,” she said. “We want to bring the entities together to build a stronger community.”

A former Metro officer who declined to give his name said fair and impartial training shouldn’t be necessary.

“We’re human beings and we shouldn’t need additional training to treat people like we want to be treated,” he said. “However, when we’re actively taking people’s lives for no reason, it’s time for a change. There’s no time to wait.”

The ex-officer was referring to Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen­ager who was shot and killed in August by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, and Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died from a spinal injury he suffered while in police custody in April in Baltimore.

Both deaths triggered protests and riots, which drew national and inter­national attention.

“Until we change the laws nationally regarding what’s intentional and what’s not intentional, things will continue to be how they are,” the former officer said.

He advised the council to not let questions go unanswered and to follow up consistently with the Police Department.

“Demand an accurate response based on what you know to be true,” he said. “We as committees don’t bother to follow up, and you won’t be able to enact change in the LVMPD until you have oversight.”

The town hall meeting was the first of many to come, Wesley said.

“We plan to meet once a month to get momentum going and to hear back from the community,” she said.

“We’ll also be changing the locations each month so we’re able to reach more people.”

Wesley added that she’s looking forward to seeing what the 15 members of the African-American Advisory Council are able to accomplish.

“We’re looking to enact change and educate our community on things that can be done better and to help the police police our community better,” she said. “There’s a lot we still have to do; we haven’t turned over every rock.”

Garner said the town hall meeting was an excellent jumping-off point.

“It’s good to get the community members together and attack the issues plaguing our community,” he said. “There’s a wealth of knowledge here, and it’s a good foundation to start with.”

The next African-American Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for July 23 at a location yet to be determined.

For more information about the council and upcoming meetings, call 1-888-812-5455 or email Co-Chairwoman Lillian McMorris at LillianMcMorrisConsultant@gmail.com.

Contact Ann Friedman at afriedman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588.