By Richard Abshire, The Dallas Morning News
Police Chief Mitch Bates and Officer Wendy Sheriff met with the Garland branch of the NAACP on Tuesday evening to discuss plans for improving the relationship between the police and minority communities.
Branch president B.J. Williams said Officer Sheriff was the catalyst for the meeting.
“Officer Sheriff is partnering with African-American community groups to identify issues or concerns for discussion,” Mr. Williams said. “For her, being a police officer in Garland is more than just a job. She has a commitment to the community.”
Mr. Williams pledged support to police efforts to work with the Carver High School Alumni Association, the Negro Women’s Business and Professional Association and local churches in providing informative and educational sessions for minorities.
Among other things, those sessions would help residents understand how to help police learn to understand different cultures and avoid miscommunication.
The effort would identify appropriate speakers to address different issues, he said. Truancy court judges, for example, could talk to parents about recognizing warning signs.
Mr. Williams said police-community relations have improved since Chief Bates took office in July 2003.
“Not that they were in dire straits before,” he said, “but I think it has improved. Chief Bates has shown the community that he has the grit to make the tough decisions and people have a high level of confidence in him.”
The Police Department has seen some highs and lows in community relations in the last few years.
In August, some Hispanic residents of Garland questioned Chief Bates’ decision to demote Assistant Chief Bill Cortez, the department’s highest-ranking Hispanic, and promote Steve Dye to replace him.
“What I’ve been doing this entire time, with this vacancy and with the department as a whole, is trying to look at the best overall fit of command staff for our department and our community for the long run,” Chief Bates said in announcing the move.
Chief Dye, who is bilingual, created Unidos – an informational program for Hispanics – in February 2003.
Koni Ramos-Kaiwi, state treasurer of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said her organization was happy with Chief Dye.
“Chief Dye has reached out, and that has helped close a lot of gaps,” she said. “I have a good, open communication with Chief Bates and Chief Dye. They are more receptive, willing to work with the community.”
Statistics from 2002 and 2003 showed that Hispanic and black motorists were more likely than Anglos to be arrested after being stopped by Garland police.
Chief Bates said the numbers were only part of the picture and did not necessarily indicate racial profiling by Garland police.
The fatal police shooting of Jorge Cruz on Aug. 31, 2003, also stirred controversy. Four officers fired at Mr. Cruz when he threatened them with a knife after menacing neighbors, according to police reports.
A departmental investigation and a Dallas County grand jury cleared the officers.
At a town-hall meeting on police use of force against minorities that was sponsored by the Garland NAACP and LULAC in January 2003, speakers said police had been involved in too many shootings of minorities and recounted incidents in which they said officers treated minorities badly.
On the positive side is the Community Multicultural Commission formed after city officials convened the “We the People” conference in September 2002.
An informal group of individuals who represent minority communities meets every other month with Chief Bates and City Manager Bill Dollar to talk about police-community relations, minority recruiting and other issues.