Trust Talk brings
police and
community
to the table
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
A Trust Talk trying to
foster understanding
between the police and
those they serve was held
at Polo Road Recreation
Center on Thursday, Dec.
10.
The Winston-Salem
Human Relations
Department has been hold
ing quarterly Trust Talks in
different parts of the city
for four years now. The
talks take citizens and
Winston-Salem Police
Department officers and
divide them into discussion
groups. The comments
from the meetings are
incorporated into the train
ing of Winston-Salem
Police Department
(WSPD) officers.
Nationally, it's a tumul
tuous time for relations
between the police and the
communities they serve.
Incidents like one in
Chicago where a police
officer shot a black teenag
er 17 times have sparked
outrage and protests. The
night before the Trust Talk,
31 year-old Travis Nevelle
Page died while in WSPD
custody. According to the
WSPD, officers were
responding to a discharged
weapon report and there
was a struggle in which
Page was pepper sprayed.
He became unresponsive
after being handcuffed
according to authorities
and was taken to the hospi
tal where he was later pro
nounced dead.
Former Human
Relations Commissioner
Dr. Ernie Wade cautioned
attendees not to jump to
any conclusions about the
incident and local police
officers in general.
"Already there are peo
pie saying, 'See? They
killed one here,"' he said.
"Already, without knowing
any of the details.'
The talk drew a variety
of people with different
backgrounds and views of
the police.
Claudette Bailey, who
heads the Pecan Ridge
Neighborhood Association
and Neighborhood Watch,
said those in her neighbor
hood "think the world" of
the police. She said police
have worked with her
neighborhood watch to
keep her area safe.
Others have been on the
other side of the law. Dave
Moore served time for
dealing drugs and now
teaches the auto body trade
to at-risk youth, ex-felons
and others to keep them
from going down the same
path. He said many have
been arrested by police
themselves and are weary
of the authorities. He's
been trying to get police
officers to come by his
Southside Rides body shop
and spend time with those
in a program to show them
a different side of policing.
"They don't like the
police, "half of them don't
even know really why,"
said Moore. "But they
don't know them as a per
son, they know them as a
uniformed officer who
arrested them."
Many had questions
about the interactions they
or people they know have
had with the police, partic
ularly about why police
pull some people over and
search their vehicles.
Moore said he was pulled
over and searched. He said
he remained calm though
his wife, who was riding
with him, was upset. An
officer apologized to him
when nothing was found.
Moore said he felt he d
been profiled, which was a
common concern among
black participants.
Rev. Curtis Friday of
The Love Church also par
ticipated. He said the
Ministers Conference of
Winston-Salem and
Vicinity, which he's a
member of, continues to
field many complaints
about the police. He
described the relationship
between the police and the
community as a "roller
coaster" and that communi
cation like the Trust Talks
was vitally needed.
"I think we're both
scared of each other," he
said.
Anxieties with stereo
types went both ways.
Several officers were con
cerned that all police were
being judged by the actions
of a few officers who acted
inappropriately. Sgt.
Rhoneek Readus said he
was concerned that young
people were growing up
with negative views of the
police.
"It's taking us back
when we need to be mov
ing forward," said Readus,
who added that WSPD is
trying to recruit young
minorities with a scholar
ship program.
Sgt. Tim Taylor
thanked attendees for com
ing. He said he'd been an
officer for 25 years and it
was his first Trust Talk. He
felt the dialog was benefi
cial and all police officers
should strive to treat those
they serve equally.
"I had a sergeant wh<?
was over the police acade
my and that's what he told
me, what he told the entire
class, when you get this
badge on, you're still a cit
izen with a job in a police
uniform," he said. 'Treat
people the way you want to
be treated."
Correction
The Chronicle apologizes for some errors made in a story written by Cash Michaels
and printed in The Chronicle on Dec. 10. The article, on page Al, has the headline
"Guardian accused of 'theft.'" The story stated that attorney Bryan Thompson's signa
ture is not on the court receipt from the Gerk's Office, but a signature next to the type
written name of witness 'Amanda H. Jones" is." In fact, after closer examination of a
copy of that court receipt, attorney Bryan Thompson's signature is next to his name, but
because of the way it was written, it was mistaken to be part of the signature written
immediately below it. The Chronicle regrets any misunderstanding that may have result
ed from this error. The Editor _
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
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Photo by Todd Lock
Dave Moore shares his thoughts during an icebreaker
session at the Trust Talk last week.
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