WHY I SUPPORT CHIEF DAVID ALEXANDER

Chief David Alexander is not running for office; he's not a politician.  But, he is a powerful bridge between the city government--and it's awesome policing powers--and the diverse communities and neighborhoods and businesses that make Pensacola a magnet for sporting teams, festivals, concerts, and corporations in northwest Florida.  There is a great deal of civic pride in Pensacola.  We see that in the vitality of our historical associations, homeowners associations, and other service-minded civic organizations, as well as the hundreds of volunteers from for-profit and non-profit corporations that mentor students, feed the homeless, or help the aged.

And, we see it in the number of residents and local groups who have rallied to ask Mayor Ashton Hayward to retain Chief Alexander as Chief of Police, and, the 6-0 vote in the City Council expressing their vote of confidence in the chief.  I join that effort.

The City of Pensacola is fortunate to have a Chief of Police who reflects and gives back that vitality and civic pride.  Chief Alexander was born and raised in Pensacola.  He knows this city.  He is a living piece of Pensacola's history who knows its troubled past, the progress it has made, and the progress it needs to make.  And, he also understands what Pensacola needs in terms of modernizing its police force.

Chief Alexander is a strong proponent of "intentional policing" or "community policing."  All residents should read Chief Alexander's "2020 Vision: Intentional Policing Strategies," a forward thinking plan to increase the legitimacy of the Pensacola Police Department through more and better training, restructuring and restaffing measures, and the use of body cameras.

But, the most significant aspect of the "2020 Vision" is to build community trust and confidence in the police through face-to-face engagement.  More trust and confidence leads to more legitimacy--and safer communities and a safer city.  Scholars of law enforcement know that the better the relationship between the police and the community, the greater the likelihood that witnesses to crimes will come forward; and, that day-to-day, face-to-face contacts between police and community members reduces frictions and can head off problems before they become criminal concerns.

Not only does Chief Alexander attend homeowners association meetings and other public meetings, but the strategy calls for his officers to meet and engage residents.  The chief proposed that shift hours be altered to allow police officers more time to engage the communities they serve.

Chief Alexander's "End of Fiscal Year 2016 Report," a copy obtained by CJ's Street Report, notes that the Pensacola Police Department, including its chief of police, have significantly increased community engagement over its reported 2014 and 2015 reports.  These include:

• Big Brother/Big Sister events and mentoring opportunities,

• UWF Men's Conference and African-American Student Association,

• Heroes in the Community partnership with Jack & Jill of America,

• Big Cookout at the Fricker Center,

• Cane and Able event with the Society for the Blind,

• 100 Black Men mentoring workshop,

• Escambia County Cares outreach services,

• All Lives Matter rally after annual Martin Luther King Jr breakfast,

• Escambia Westgate Mardi Gras parade,

• Officers wrote positive notes for Campfire Gulf Winds' Incredible Kids,

• WRNE Monday morning broadcast,

• Domestic violence conference in Pensacola for PPD officers and support agencies,

• Florida Faith-based Commission meeting to discuss problem-solving techniques,

• Lecture to Booker T. Washington HS football team on staying out of trouble,

• Real Women guest speaker on internet radio broadcast,

• UWF workshop with 125 participants on drunk driving,

• Five-day youth and police academy,

• Continued work with the ACLU, NAACP, Movement for Change, WEAR TV3, WKRG TV5, and VFN Radio to keep positive lines of communication open with community,

• Achieve Escambia partnership,

• National Coffee with a Cop Day,

• National Night Out,

• and on and on and on and on and on.

"Been There, Done That" Hosts Meeting on Surviving Po-Po Encounter

On 22 September 2016, Pensacola group, "Been There, Done That," founded by Ms. Nicole Barnes and assisted by Baptist Behavioral Medicine therapist, Ms. Lashica Charley, and Nicole's daughter Deja, hosted a community meeting at the Englewood Baptist Church.  The purpose of the meeting was to explore how to survive an encounter with the local police.  Two local experts, attorney Aaron Watson and Pensacola Police Department Chief David Alexander, spoke for about 90 minutes and answered questions from the floor.  Chief Alexander spoke for a majority of the time and hoped there would be a larger community discussion of the complex issue of community policing.  "Been There, Done That" is planning more meetings for later in the year.

On each side of a civilian-police encounter is a situation fraught with uncertainty and danger, both experts agreed.  The civilian has constitutional rights.  The police have rights related to enforcing the law.  They may or may not violate your constitutional rights during the encounter.  Mr. Watson advocated that you comply with police commands and sort out your constitutional rights the next day.  The main focus should be to survive the encounter.

Attorney Watson provided a handout from the American Civil Liberties Union covering encounters with police, immigration, or the FBI if you are questioned, if they come to your home, and if you are arrested.  The following are just a few of the recommendations:

• You have the right to remain silent.  If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud.
• You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car, or your home.
• If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave.
• You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested.  Ask for one immediately.
• Do stay calm and be polite.
• Do not interfere with or obstruct the police.
• Do not lie or give false statements.
• Do remember details of the encounter.
• Do file a written complaint or call your local ACLU if you feel your rights have been violated.
• Stay calm.  Don't run.  Don't argue, resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or police are violating your rights.  Keep your hands where police can see them.
• Ask if you are free to leave.  If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away.  If you are under arrest, you have a right to know why.
• You have the right to remain silent and cannot be punished for refusing to answer questions.
• You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may 'pat down' your clothing if they suspect a weapon.  You should not physically resist, but you the right to refuse consent for any further search.  If you do consent, it can affect you later in court.

Chief Alexander provided a checklist of 11 things to remember and do "When Confronted by a Law Enforcement Officer.  These are provided below in abbreviated form:

• 1.  Keep your hands in plain view so the officer can see that you are not armed or pose an immediate threat to him.
• 2.  Don't make any sudden moves, reach under a seat, reach into your pocket, put a hand inside a jacket, etc.  These furtive movements may alarm an officer that he is in danger.
• 3.  If you have a firearm in your vehicle, inform the officer immediately of its location and let the officer remove and secure it during the encounter.  Under NO circumstances should you ever reach for the weapon.
• 4.  Listen to the officers instructions and if you do not understand what he requires of you, ask him to repeat his request.
• 5.  Do what the officer requests of you.
• 6.  DO NOT take an aggressive or hostile position or attitude.
• 7.  Answer the officer's questions honestly and as completely as you can.  If there is information you wish not to divulge, politely inform the officer you do not wish to provide that information.  If he insists and you are adamant in your position, invoke your legal right to not answer until you have spoken with an attorney.
• 8.  Maintain and produce official identification when asked by an officer.
• 9.  Don't argue with an officer.  You have the right to request to speak with a supervisor if you can't get answers to your questions.
• 10.  No one likes to be stopped or questioned by law enforcement; however, remember these contacts are necessary if we are to provide for your safety and security and to enforce the laws we are sworn to uphold.
• 11.  If you are detained and arrested DO NOT resist.  Remember, resistance could lead to additional charges even if you are innocent of the original charge.

If you listen to Attorney Watson, he advises that you NOT CONSENT to searches.  Protect your constitutional rights when answering questions from law enforcement.

As an editorial aside, Sheriff Morgan was invited to attend but apparently he declined or did not respond to the invitation.

Remember, Sheriff Morgan just won the Republican primary and he did not receive a single Democratic vote.  He apparently provided for some Black guy to enter the Democratic primary who then promptly skeedaddled and disappeared to points unknown--thus depriving Democrats of the opportunity to vote in the Republican primary.  The only time Sheriff Morgan comes into the Black community is when he goes to a Black church that has received funds from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund or otherwise gets ECSO support and the Sheriff can sing obscure Negro spirituals that no one remembers.

Below, are video presentations of the community meeting.

Ms. Nicole BARNES

Attorney Aaron WATSON

PPD Chief David ALEXANDER