City Of Lake Wales issued the following announcement on Sep. 01.
LAKE WALES CITIZENS AND POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPROACHES ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
The Lake Wales Citizens and Police Community Relations Advisory Committee has met eight times since its inception, and has already tackled such issues as department body cameras, recruitment of officers and the process involved in pulling a vehicle over since it was formed just under one year ago.
Chairman Andy Oguntola, Polk State’s Dean of Workforce Education and Economic Development who oversees the college’s JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales, recently updated the city commission on the group’s progress.
He said the group has had a role in addressing a number of topics that local residents have asked about, including body cameras which are currently being rolled out in the department. When an additional 24 cameras go into use later this fall, Lake Wales will be the only city in Polk County to have its staff fully outfitted with cameras.
“We helped to become a vessel to talk about the policy behind them,” Oguntola noted. “We took a whole meeting, roughly an hour and half, and talked about the purpose of body cameras.”
He said it was important for the advisory board to invest the time in reviewing the program since it was such a popular topic among many citizens who brought them up at several meetings.
“We wanted to make sure if we were going to move in that direction that we were an example for Polk County, because we were the first city in the county to move forward with cameras,” Oguntola added. “We asked a lot of pertinent questions.”
Meetings have been held in both commission chambers at city hall, and in various community locations like the B Street Community Service Center, Highpoint Church and the Lake Wales Women’s Club. Having them at city hall allows them to be streamed live online to allow those who can’t attend a chance to view the discussions, but Oguntola said having meetings away from city hall can also encourage more attendance.
One tangible action came as a result of a meeting at B Street where attendees asked for better signage in the historic northwest neighborhood. Ogantola said that situation has already been addressed with the city adding more signs there.
Most recently all members of the advisory board were provided books on best police practices, and are reviewing those.
“We’re talking about the best things in the nation and also what we can do better in Lake Wales so we can have those crucial conversations or some would say courageous conversations so we can move forward,” Oguntola said.
The group’s vice chairman is Narvell Peterson, who spent more than 40 years with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
He said improving options for young people to become more familiar with the Lake Wales police department, through more programs in conjunction with Lake Wales High School for example, would benefit the city too.
“The main thing is to get people from our city to police our streets, that know our people, that were born and raised in our community, they’ve got love for our community,” Peterson noted. “That’s what makes a good police officer.”
City commissioners agreed that so far, the group has done what was asked of them. Commissioner Terrye Howell said she was hopeful the board would come back to the commission, however, with additional suggestions about how they can be even more helpful in serving as a bridge between the LWPD and community.
Often, any suggestions, complaints or concerns brought up by those who attend meetings are immediately forwarded to a representative of the police department. The LWPD’s official liaison to the board is Lt. Michael Smith, who recently replaced retired deputy chief Troy Shulze.
Concerns and questions are also often shared with Community Officer Ed Palmer as well, Oguntola said.
“Based on the way our charter was written up and also our operating practices, we’re not a complaint board.” Oguntola explained. “We’re here to talk about ways we can resolve issues, in the sense of standards or hear some ideas, about how we can connect the community and police. That’s our board.”
Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said he was pleased with the board’s work to this point.
“I look at it as your group being a conduit from the citizenry to the police department, kind of conciliating that, and getting people back together and working toward a common goal,” Gibson observed. “I think you’ve made a good start toward it.”
The board will be getting back to its full five-member capacity soon. Jack Hilligoss, who was recently appointed to fill an open commission seat, had been a member of the advisory board. He is expected to make a recommendation for a person to fill that position in the near future.
“What we’re trying to foster is to believe the best about the officer standing in front of you,” Hilligoss said. “We have to breakdown some of this automatic suspicion, and I hope that is what this about”
Original source can be found here.
Source: City Of Lake Wales
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