Today I spoke in favor of Supervisor Tyrone Nelson's proposal to establish an independent civilian review board for the Henrico Police Department.
TRANSCRIPT:
Good afternoon, my name is Henry Haggard of Tuckahoe. My goal today is to advocate for the future my generation deserves. Supervisor Nelson’s proposal to create an independent civilian review board for Henrico County is neither radical nor anti cop. It’s not new either. It’s a simple step that many local governments take in the face of unrest. It’s equally effective in combating unjust policing, easing the tension between the police and the people, and polishing the windows of opaque government.
Good afternoon, my name is Henry Haggard of Tuckahoe. My goal today is to advocate for the future my generation deserves. Supervisor Nelson’s proposal to create an independent civilian review board for Henrico County is neither radical nor anti cop. It’s not new either. It’s a simple step that many local governments take in the face of unrest. It’s equally effective in combating unjust policing, easing the tension between the police and the people, and polishing the windows of opaque government.
First, I would like to ask the Board a question. Is police reform necessary? Allow me to quote NYPD officer Michael Dowd:
"I had been in internal affairs investigations a couple of times, and they were very easy to breeze through. I answered a few questions. I lied through every answer, and I went back to patrol."
If that doesn’t concern you gravely, it should. But it’s not just excessive we’re talking about here. We’re talking about trust. Take a moment to imagine that you are one of Marcus David Peters' students. I'm sure you've all heard his name by now. If your city was able to grant your teacher’s killer paid administrative leave, but unable to hire a full-time counselor or nurse for your school, you would lose complete faith in the system. If we don’t act now, we’re creating an entire generation who cannot trust the police.
"I had been in internal affairs investigations a couple of times, and they were very easy to breeze through. I answered a few questions. I lied through every answer, and I went back to patrol."
If that doesn’t concern you gravely, it should. But it’s not just excessive we’re talking about here. We’re talking about trust. Take a moment to imagine that you are one of Marcus David Peters' students. I'm sure you've all heard his name by now. If your city was able to grant your teacher’s killer paid administrative leave, but unable to hire a full-time counselor or nurse for your school, you would lose complete faith in the system. If we don’t act now, we’re creating an entire generation who cannot trust the police.
This review board would give Henrico citizens a platform to advocate for their prosperity directly. No closed doors, no strings attached. And if done right, is neither cumbersome nor corrupt. We cannot settle for a division, though. When you have an oversight committee that reports to the very group it’s meant to oversee, you have a problem. It is vital that oversight comes from outside. And the people have made themselves perfectly clear on this issue. So all I ask of you today is that you stand up for, and on behalf of, the people. Please, vote for Supervisor Nelson’s proposal. Need I remind you, the people can vote too. Thank you.
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