Spa City virtual forum set to focus on policing

HOT SPRINGS — Community leaders will take part in a public online discussion tonight in an effort to promote transparency and relationship building between the community and its law enforcement agencies.

“Community Policing Forum — The Talk” will be hosted at 6 p.m. on the group Facebook page of Difference Makers of Hot Springs.

Formal discussion attendees will include County Judge Darryl Mahoney, City Manager Bill Burrough, Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick, Hot Springs Police Chief Chris Chapmond, Hot Springs School District Superintendent Stephanie Nehus, Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness CEO Rob Gershon and community advocate Elmer Beard.

Guest moderators will be Vice Chancellor Brian Gittens and Senior Diversity Specialist Amber Booth-McCoy.

Viewers are welcome to submit questions through the video’s comment section.

The Rev. Willie Wade, founder and president of Difference Makers, said the discussion will be about “bridging the gap” between community and law enforcement agencies and communities, particularly minority communities.

“You won’t know until you talk as to what needs to be addressed,” Wade said. “Our hope is this conversation will begin a discussion that will periodically take place because the whole thing, to me, behind conversations like this is to build momentum to change policies and ordinance, to change uniform standards as to how we may train our officers as to what to look for, what the community is saying they may need, and how do we work together in collaboration.”

He noted the collaboration required for these efforts must be an equal one.

“It has to be an equal collaboration in order for it to be a safe and operating community,” Wade said. “There’s responsibility on both sides … and the only way it can work properly is if we work together in a mutual harmony for the better good of the police so they’re able to conduct what they need to conduct and that the citizens are able to move about freely without fear for their lives or their safety.”

The discussion comes in light of the death of George Floyd, a Black man from Minneapolis who died while in police custody in late May. Floyd’s death sparked protests against police brutality nationwide.

“We have not had an incident to that magnitude or de- gree, but we know also no city is immune to being a victim at any given time,” Wade said.

The group would like to the city government be more transparent, when it comes to its procedures and methods used to police the community.

“With anything, you want to have feedback from the people who are going to be the most concerned or affected,” Wade said.