Gov. Terry McAuliffe reminded law enforcement leaders from across the commonwealth on Thursday that their efforts to keep communities safe are vital to attracting business – and a detractor when officers fail.
“I cannot convince a (chief executive officer) of a company somewhere around the globe to move to Virginia if we don’t have a reputation as having safe communities,” the governor said. “So you’re so integral in what we’re doing.”
The governor’s comments came during a daylong forum held at Hampton University to discuss how to improve relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. The event attracted speakers from as far away as Pennsylvania and Ohio and involved more than 200 police from throughout Virginia.
“It’s important for you to know how you fit in when I talk about building the new Virginia economy,” McAuliffe said. “It all comes down to jobs and economic development.”
“One instance, one bad thing in our communities could totally upend all that – that’s why this conference you’re having here today is so important,” McAuliffe said.
Police tactics and use of force have been under a spotlight in the past year as videos of police shootings and other actions reached people across the country through social media and news reports.
A University of Virginia student’s arrest by Alcoholic Beverage Control officers in March drew a national outcry after photos of the student bloodied by the encounter were shared online.
The forum organized by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services was held to discuss strengthening community partnerships, improving citizen satisfaction and building trust among residents.
Hampton Police Chief Terry Sult said pulling together law enforcement with community members to discuss relationships is positive for both groups.
“This gives us an opportunity to network with people in the room, and even more important is that it brings together a diverse group of people to the table, so we’re all on the same page,” he said.
State Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said dialogue exploring “issues of complicit bias” and “procedural justice” are needed to improve the relationship between law enforcement and residents.
Locke also stressed the importance of “developing preventive intervention methods before incidents happen” during her comments to participants.
The use of technology was also discussed.
“I hope you talk about these issues: What should we do about body cameras? What should we do about drones and other surveillance equipment? What should we do about license plate readers?” the governor asked. “These are all things I happen to support because I think it happens to keep our community safer.”
McAuliffe Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran said the governor created the Secure Commonwealth Panel to advise him on how best to “improve the safety of law enforcement officers through the use of technology.”
Criminal Justice Services is researching the use of body-worn cameras.
Still, face-to-face interactions with the public are key to making sure officers and residents understand each other, speaker and retired Raleigh, North Carolina, Police Chief Harry Dolan said.
“An old boss used to tell me that if the community is outside the car, then I need to be where the community is,” Dolan said.
Brauchle can be reached at 757-846-4361.
