NCJ Number
37387
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 43 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1976) Pages: 80-82
Date Published
1976
Length
3 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION OF TH MEDIATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE WHEN A RACIAL CONFRONTATION AROSE BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THIS SOUTHEAST TEXAS CITY.
Abstract
THE RACIAL SITUATION WAS SET OFF BY THE FATAL SHOOTING, BY A WHITE POLICE OFFICER, OF A 22-YEAR OLD BLACK WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE FROM JAIL. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE SUPERVISED FIVE MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY AIMED AT DEVELOPING A POLICY GUIDE FOR FUTURE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTIONS. THIRTEEN LOW PUBLIC PROFILE NEGOTIATING SESSIONS LED TO THE ADOPTION OF A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT FIREARMS POLICY, A NEW ARREST AND DETENTION POLICY, AND NEW PROGRAMS FOR POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND MINORITY RECRUITMENT. THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE WAS SET UP UNDER THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.