Title
Authorizing the Police Chief and one community member to attend and participate in the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, DC.
Body
WHEREAS, August 9 will mark the anniversary of the incident in Ferguson, Missouri, that made headlines around the world. While reflecting over that day and other controversial incidents in policing over the past year, the City of Saint Paul, Police Department has recognized policing has been thrust into the spotlight in a way that has caused a re-examination of nearly every aspect of policing; and
WHEREAS, according to the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), we are beginning to see upticks in violent crime in many cities, following many years of historical lows in crime. The legitimacy of the police comes from the communities we serve, yet at the very moment when we must increase our focus on crime, public confident in police tactics is being questions, fraying police-community relationships; and
WHEREAS, PERF is convening a meeting of chiefs and one member from their community for a day long discussion of strategies for building trust between police and community members; the goal of which is to seek their guidance for a rebuilding trust between the police and community members; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul, Police Department has been asked to participate, sending its chief and one community member to Washington, DC in July with an estimated cost of $1,100, the public purpose of which is to support the City and Department's efforts to make the community safe; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes the attendance and expenditure which Chief Smith believes to be a significant event that will provide direction to the City of Saint Paul and its Police Department on a national level.
Financial Analysis
None