Community Conversation About Policing and Policy

KIMT News 3's Isabella Basco shows us what Rochester leaders discussed

It's been 17 days since an unarmed black man ?

"* george floyd ?

"* was killed by a formr minneapolis police officer.

His death spurring national and global conversations about racial injustice.

At a virutal town hall rochestser city leaders answered the public's questions surrounding police brutality... the role of school resource officers and the need for the cities approximately 27 million dollar public safety budget.

Kimt news 3's isabella basco sat in on the townhall.

Isabella?

George and katie ?

"* tonight *- community members had an honest and open discussion about policing... policy and the future of law enforcement.

Mayor kim norton.... rochester police chief jim franklin and city attorney jason loos all taking part... and residents didn't hold back.

Following the death of george floyd ?

"* community members are searching for answers from local city and county leaders when it comes to police reform.

Naacp president w.c.

Jordan led the discussion.

"there have been steady increases in the police budget annually.

Are you committed to decreasing the police department budget in order to allocate funds to much?

"* needd social programs?"

"am i going to cut the police budget to fund other programs?

I think probably the answer is no.

Does it mean we won't focus on those other programs?

Yes, i'm just not sure public safety, the number one thing the community wants is where it's going to come from?"

Jordan also asking sandra ewing ?

"* with r?

"* p?

"*d ?

"* if data police practices will be made public.

"the community needs data such as how often police used force, why force was used, whether it was justified or under what circumstances it was effective?"

"absolutely, i think it's a fantastic idea."

Another hot topic at the town hall... the role of school resource officers in disciplining students.

"currently school district 535 has one of the highest suspension and expulsion rates in the country.

Are police officers not adding to that metric?"

"as suspensions go we should not have any say in that.

That's not a law enforcement issue, and we should be separate from that."

Amid national unrest and calls for police reform ?

"* mayor norton says she is hopeful something positive will come from all of this.

"i'm sad that the man died and i'm hopeful that death is not in vain.

We during the town hall... sheriff kevin torgerson said at first ?

"* he couldn't bring himself to watch the video of george floyd being killed by former minneapolis police officer derek chauvin.

He called the officer's actions "incomprehensi ble."

Live in rochester ib kimt news 3.

Thank you isabella.

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