Many major cities are experiencing chaos and destruction.
Amidst the growing demand for "defunding the police" in cities like San Francisco, New York City, Milwaukee and right next door in Winston-Salem, NC, according to an article by Axios, the City of Greenville is taking steps to instill and keep a harmony in this place we call home.
On June 22nd, a resolution was unanimously passed, during the formal council meeting, to create a Citizens Advisory Panel on Public Safety.
The purpose of the panel is to "improve communication flow between the Greenville Police Department (GPD) and the community, identify and collaborate on public safety issues, develop a dialogue about Greenville, specifically around policing, and recognize the evolving relationship between law enforcement and the community."
On July 13th, council voted and approved the slate of nominees selected by Mayor Knox White and the six members of council.
From the City of Greenville website, panel members include:
Stacey D. Mills - Panel Chair
Assistant Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of the Greenville campus for the University of South Carolina Upstate and Senior Pastor at Mountain View Baptist Church.
Karen Baynes Dunning
President of Baynes-Dunning Consulting LLC and former juvenile court judge.
Jerry Blassingame
Founder and CEO of Soteria Community Development Corporation
Cindy Crick
Cindy Crick Law Firm and former Chief of Staff for Representative Trey Gowdy
Mary Duckett
South Carolina Department of Corrections and President of Southemside Neighborhoods in Action
Wesley D. Few
Private Defense Attorney
Stacey Owens
Former Captain of the Greenville Police Department.
This seven member panel will be tasked with:
- Reviewing current GPD policies, including the use of force policy, body-worn camera policies, K9 policies and training policies, including de-escalation tactics
- Reviewing GPD minority hiring practices and developing recommendations for improvement
- Reviewing the composition, duties and responsibilities of the Public Safety Citizen Review Board
The Panel will have 60 days from its initial meeting to present recommendations to City Council.
To learn more about the Citizen Advisory Panel on Public Safety and its' members, visit www.GreenvilleSC.gov.
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