Following the death of George Floyd and national protests demanding justice, racial equality and police reform, City Leaders everywhere are stepping up to discuss and implement change. According to the New York Times, Just under a week ago, the city of Minneapolis pledged to dismantle their police department, promising to create a new system of public safety in a city where law enforcement has long accused racism.
On Wednesday, Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton spoke out against Police Brutality and addressed Racism and Discrimination at the Tamarac City Commission meeting. He said that Generations of organizing and pain have come to a head in the past two week and what has long been clear is now undeniable. “It is time to re-imagine public safety beyond policing,” he said.
Bolton who has a degree in Criminal Justice and Public Safety Management, said that he would personally convene a Public Safety Council. The council would comprise residents living in his district who are members of the clergy, former FBI Agents, retired judges, millennials and residents of all races, age and experiences. Their main role would be to review the contract that the City has with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. “We need to first understand what the contract says and what we are empowered to do,” Bolton said.
Vice Mayor Bolton requested that the City Manager deliver the BSO contract to his office no later than 5pm the next day. Bolton says he wants to review the Use of Force Policy and learn what policies deputies that patrol the city fall under. The conversation followed a motion made by Bolton to direct the City Attorney to draft a resolution that would create a City-wide 5 member committee, giving each Commissioner and the Mayor an appointment. The motion passed 5-0.
The roles and responsibilities of the committee will later be revealed when the City Attorney returns with a draft of the resolution at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
—
Photo courtesy: City of Tamarac
