Delaware State University hosted the first “Building a Community of Diversity, Tolerance, Accountability and Trust” forum recently. The forum brought together police, community members, legislators and educators in a town hall format. The focus of the discussion? Community/police relations. This kind of forum is essential to creating a solution to a grievous problem.
Clearly the country is plagued by a rift between communities and the police that are sworn to protect them. Throughout the nation the number of police shootings has caught the attention of the world. The answer eludes everyone: improved training? A reformed economic system? More aggressive police tactics? Until a massive investment is made in challenging the tension between police and their communities, these types of forums must continue using peaceful and civic means to draw attention to one of the nation’s most pressing problems.