Fort Worth police talk about ‘emotional and tragic events’
The Fort Worth police department sent a “letter to the community” Thursday afternoon to address “opinions regarding the emotional and tragic events that . . . have been in some cases polarizing.”
The letter noted that this week, police representatives have particpated in two events — a forum at The Potter’s House and a meeting with members of Black Lives Matter.
Here is the full text of the letter:
7/13/2016
FORT WORTH, Texas- Letter to the community
High profile tragedies and instances that tug at the hearts of our nation often form rifts in communities, where as human beings some feel forced to choose sides or retaliate, because we relate to those who look like ourselves, who we love and admire, or whom we are familiar. Our priority as the Fort Worth Police Department during this emotionally charged time is to protect against rhetoric or anything that might cause a division between the police and community. We will continue to respond with diligence to community requests for public meetings and impromptu gatherings to allow citizens a voice. What has become evident is that opinions regarding the emotional and tragic events that have befallen country over the past few weeks have been in some cases polarizing. In an effort to remind the fellow members of our community that public service, democratic policing, and organizational transparency are primary parts of our mission, we participated in two separate, yet poignant events.
On Tuesday July 12, 2016, Chief Fitzgerald and members of the FWPD Command Staff met in a Public Forum with over 200 citizens at the Potter’s House (East Division), and simulcast the event on livestream via Facebook (over 9.8k views). At the same time, members of the Fort Worth Police Officer Association (FWPOA) met with members of the Black Lives Matter movement in Downtown Ft. Worth-Sundance Square. In each discussion, the groups openly and honestly engaged in peaceful discourse on very difficult topics. Overwhelmingly, the tenet of each conversation was supportive of this department, our dedication to transparency, procedural justice, and the elimination implicit bias. We were realistic, and understood that although there some outcomes that we may not agree on, the police department must still be transparent, willing to accept criticism, and above all, professional. Both meetings ended with the pledge to continue to work in cooperation and collaboration to better relate with each other through diversity and inclusion training in the U.S. Justice Department National Initiative, to build trust and to provide better service to all stakeholders.
This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 10:38 PM with the headline "Fort Worth police talk about ‘emotional and tragic events’."