Kent Police, residents build relationships at public meeting

A diverse crowd of more than 200 gave Kent Police a standing ovation after a community meeting Thursday night to build relationships between residents and officers.

Police Chief Ken Thomas organized the gathering in the Student Center at Kent Covenant Church on the East Hill in response to recent officer shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La., and other incidents throughout the nation. He wanted residents to let police know about their concerns.

People who spoke at the jam-packed center mostly gave positive feedback to the police during the two-hour session. There were no protests, no shouts, no boos. The crowd applauded speakers who hit on a theme of harmony over hostility and making Kent a model city for unity.

Gwen Allen-Carston, executive director of the Kent Black Action Commission, admittedly raised her voice when she spoke to the crowd.

“I’m sick of tired of all of this destruction that we are facing these days in these United States,” Allen-Carston said. “I’m tired of it on the black side. I’m tired of it on the white side, the purple side, the pink side and the whatever side. We are all human beings and we have a right to life. We are not the creator, we are the created.

“We need to give leeway to people to be able to say what they need to say, how they need to say it, when they need to say it. And don’t cast any aspersions on them, they’re just trying to let you know how they feel.

“I’ve got grandchildren and great grandchildren, and I want them to have a better place and for them to be able not to even think about some of this stuff we’re going through. And if we have to set the marker here in the city of Kent, let’s set the marker here in the city of Kent.”

Tye Whitfield said she wants more interaction between officers and residents, even for officers to step out of their patrol vehicle and go shake the hand of someone.

“We need our police force to not feel so much that every time you respond to us it has to be a job response,” she said. “I was brought up I thought you guys were villains. I was taught to not get in trouble with the police… It’s very important to get to know people other than just your job description.”

Whitfield also spoke about how Kent can be an example for others.

“We have to show our children, we have to show the different cities this is how we get down in the city of Kent,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be a racism thing, this is a people’s thing. … There are too many cultures in this city to be dealing with racism. It’s not about black lives matter, it’s people’s lives matter.”

Crystal Fincher said officers are doing a good job of keeping residents involved, including the meeting held on this night.

“We know we have something special with the Kent Police Department, and it’s really a model for the nation to follow how you have led partnering with the community,” Fincher said. “… I do really appreciate the way you have made it a priority to be a part of the community and to work toward a department that increasingly reflects the community.”

The demands of duty

One speaker wondered about the stress officers face because of the shooting deaths in other cities. Thomas said it has been rough.

“An officer stopped by my office today and told me about his 8-year-old son who when they saw what was going on TV and what’s been happening lately, started crying and asked his dad not to be a police officer anymore,” Thomas said.

A senior officer talked with the chief after the Baton Rouge shootings.

“Sometimes, I don’t know why we do this,” he told Thomas.

“Our officers right now are down a little bit,” Thomas said. “There is a level of stress and a level of fear.”

Thomas even heard from his own son.

“My 20-year-old son after the Dallas shootings said, ‘Dad don’t wear your uniform to work when you go back to work. I want you to be safe. I worry about you.’ ”

Prior to hearing from residents, Thomas gave opening remarks about efforts to keep the community safe, including how crisis intervention training makes a difference.

“It’s how to deal with people with mental health or addiction issues and how to resolve those issues as best we can and as peacefully as we can to build an understanding so our officers are only using force when it’s absolutely necessary,” Thomas said. “We have seen time and time again where there have been situations where officers could have used deadly force and they have not. They took extra time to talk people through and were able to avoid deadly force encounters.”

The chief explained that besides guns, officers carry a Taser, pepper spray and batons to use as options to control an individual.

“Our training and our policy mandates that we use the lowest level of force necessary to keep our community, our officers and the suspects safe while still effectively carrying out the lawful thing we are trying to carry out,” he said.

To wrap up the meeting, Thomas thanked the residents who spoke and those who have responded in other ways over the last few weeks.

“There were many kind words said tonight,” he said. “There were many great emails, cards, gifts sent to the station. We are so lucky as a police department to have the community and the support we have from you guys.”