NAACP honors recently retired police chief
Members of NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Branch 1034 met in January with the Murrieta Police Department to honor recently retired Murrieta Police Chief Sean Hadden.
At the meeting, Pastor Willie J. Oliver Jr., president of NAACP Branch 1034, presented Hadden a certificate of appreciation and plaque honoring Hadden’s partnership with the branch for the past several years.
“Chief Hadden has been very instrumental in changing the climate and culture of our communities,” Oliver said at the presentation, according to a news release.
“As the chief of police, he always wanted to be in front of issues and change, instead of being reactive. His relationship with NAACP Branch 1034 has always been one of respect, honesty and accountability. He will be missed, but we also have equal confidence in his successor, Chief Tony Conrad,” Oliver said.
Members of the Murrieta and Menifee police departments and the Murrieta Fire Department attended the presentation, staged outside the Murrieta police station, along with Hadden’s wife, Doreen.
“I am very thankful to have had such a close friendship with the leadership of Branch 1034 for the past seven and a half years, and I am extremely proud of the partnership the Murrieta Police Department and Branch 1034 have been able to build over these past years,” Hadden said at the presentation, according to the news release.
“I have also appreciated the advocacy Branch 1034 has provided to our community and for being the much-needed conduit between the police department and those that may have a distrust of law enforcement,” Hadden said.
Several years ago, Darryl Smith, former president of Branch 1034, reached out to Hadden to initiate a relationship between the two organizations to build a bridge of understanding and strengthen the community, according to the news release. That was at a time when several national incidents spotlighted the strained relationship between some communities of color and the police.
Since then, Branch 1034 and the Murrieta Police Department under Hadden’s leadership have worked together to educate the community and bring concerns of local people to a positive conclusion, according to a news release. In June, Oliver and Hadden coordinated a prayer vigil in front of the Murrieta Police Department after the death of George Floyd.
Oliver and members of Branch 1034 anticipate continuing the positive relationship with the Murrieta Police Department under the leadership of Police Chief Tony Conrad, who also attended the presentation.
“The Local NAACP branch is very important to our department. Chief Hadden established that relationship and fostered it over the years. I plan on doing the same,” Conrad said at the presentation, according to the news release.
NAACP Branch 1034’s recent work in the community includes partnering with Perris High School in November to donate muchneeded Wi-Fi hot spot services and technology items to eight families of color in need.
The branch welcomes new members and holds Zoom meetings the last Saturday of each month.
For information, email branch1034naacp@gmail. com, go to changeisontherise.wixsite.com/naacpbranch-1034 or call 951-3878848.