Panelists discussed racial profiling at a forum held Thursday in the Reitz Union to discuss the misconduct of law enforcement officers within communities across the nation.
The forum, hosted by student organizations like the Institute of Black Culture and the Dream Defenders, discussed the death of Michael Brown and concern over a similar event happening in the local community.
Panelists who attended the forum included Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones, University Police Chief Darren Baxley and Santa Fe College Police Deputy Chief Ed Book.
One of the first questions asked to the panelists was, “Is racial profiling an issue when it comes to the actions of an officer?”
Panelists focused on the importance of transparency when dealing with any individual.
Baxley said that individuals who come in contact with law enforcement should be polite and cooperative.
“By policy, we avoid any racial stereotypes or profiling,” Baxley said, “and if there is an issue with that, we take action to either fix that problem or remove the individual from our department.”
At one point in the night, GPD Lt. Will Halvosa asked the audience if they felt they had ever been unfairly profiled when being pulled over.
Almost half of the room of about 150 attendees raised their hands.
Book said it’s important for police departments to have a diverse staff to represent a diverse population.
“There are no sides in community policing. There is only one side and that’s the community,” Book said. “(Our department) knows how to provide fair law enforcement services because we enforce it 24/7, 365.”
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 11/7/2014]
(From left) Santa Fe College Chief Ed Book, University Police Deputy Chief Darren Baxley, Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones and UF leaders hold a forum Thursday night to discuss police brutality around the country in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom.
