Police Relations Panel to Hold Forum in Wilber
84 views · Published 11 February 2015 · 2:37 · Indexed 21 October 2026
Channel: Dayton 24/7 Now · 2015 · News & Politics
WILBERFORCE -- Ohio's new task force on community-police relations met with the Miami Valley community Monday at Central State University. The task force was formed of law makers, law enforcement, and community leaders, by Governor John Kasich, in the wake of the fatal shooting of John Crawford by police in Beavercreek, and Tamir Rice by police in Cleveland. Both Crawford and Rice were African American. Monday's meeting allowed community members to give suggestions as to what should change between police and ohio communities, and ask questions of panelists. "My son Eric is African American, my grandson Marcus is African American, and I was born in Ferguson, Missouri," said Al Shleeter, a white man speaking to the task force panel, "This issue is very important to me." The meeting at Central State was the second for the new task force, the only previous meeting was in Cleveland. Monday's discussion focused on Ohio grand jury proceedings. "A very sensitive issue especially for this community given what happened to John Crawford," said Nina Turner, co-chair of the task force, "But it's been a strong outpouring, and that's what we want. We're really here to listen, have experts speak, but really listen," Turner continued. "I think on both ends there's a little bit of blame throwing," said Jessica Thomas who came to the meeting with the Greene County Black Lives Matter group, "The community feels like we have questions that we want answered." "My question is do you feel the grand jury process is still a valid way to bring charges against police officers?" Asked Senator Sandra Williams, a task force panelist. "The question is who should make the proper presentation in say a police shooting case?" Responded Attorney Samuel Shamansky, a special presenter at the meeting, "Who's the best person to run a grand jury at that stage?" Turner said for most of the questions asked at the meeting, there are no answers yet, but that's what the task force is charged with, with help from the community. "We have an opportunity to go in and provide some training at all levels of law enforcement throughout this great state of Ohio," said Derrick Foward, president of the Dayton Area NAACP at the meeting. "I urge you, black lives do matter, so please do something so John Crawford's life will not be given in vain," said Al Shleeter at the end of his public comment. "The governor has assured that some action will be taken, we're not just doing this," said Turner, "This is not just for some glossy report to sit on someone's desk on a shelf, this is to really have some action." The Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations must have a report to Governor Kasich by the end of April. Community members who want to get involved in the dialogue and suggestions to the task force are urged to use
