Online forum opportunity for public to learn about and offer feedback on Salem Police Department policy
Salem, Massachusetts – Earlier this summer Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll took the Reimagining Policing Pledge developed by the Obama Foundation. A key component of the pledge is to conduct a review of the local police department’s use of force policy, including gathering public feedback and input.
To that end, Salem residents are invited to participate in an online Use of Force Town Hall on Tuesday, September 29th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The Town Hall will be broadcast live on www.salem.com/useofforce and streamed live on the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofsalemma . A recording of it will also be available on the City’s Facebook page after the event and rebroadcast on Salem Access TV
The Town Hall will be co-moderated by Mayor Driscoll and members of the City’s Race Equity Task Force. The event will start with a presentation by the Salem Police Department Acting Chief of Police Dennis King. Following the presentation there will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
Questions can be asked live at www.salem.com/useofforce during the event or emailed in advance to raceequity@salem.com before Monday, September 28th at 4:00 p.m. with “Use of Force” in the subject line. Please note that questions posted in the comments to the City Facebook page during the live stream of the event may not be seen. If you wish to posts questions live during the Town Hall, please submit them in the Q&A at www.salem.com/useofforce during the event.
The Salem Police Department’s Use of Force policy is available in English and in Spanish for public review at http://salempd.org/policies- procedures.
“I believe Salem’s Police Department has one of the more progressive use of force policies in the nation, however that does not absolve us of a responsibility to review it publicly and with an open mind,” said Mayor Driscoll. “Our police policies exist not only to ensure discipline within the department, but to instill public confidence in the department’s actions. Having a transparent, open review of this important law enforcement policy is in keeping with the pledge that I made, and also just sound, good government practice.”
“The Salem Police Department is committed to encouraging community input in all aspects of how we effectively protect and serve,” said Acting Chief King. “I welcome this opportunity to discuss our Use of Force policies, explain the legal, training and tactical foundations we rely on when developing them, and hear directly from community members on how these policies affect them. This review of our policies, to include community input, will undoubtedly lead to a sound and representative base for any changes to come.”
