Members of the City Council on Tuesday afternoon debated whether a former police officer should have been named to the new Police Oversight Board.
Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod has been the most vocal opponent of this appointment, saying “I don’t want someone beholden to the ‘blue code.’”
She said, "In 2019, we’re having to have a conversation about police brutality, inequality, funding in the inner city community.
But when it comes to police brutality, and the way it’s presented in the black community, it’s an issue that predates us. My concern is if he’s going to be bound to those codes, because as we see now, we have a sheriff who can’t see because he’s bound to those codes."
Councilman Chip Henderson, who appointed retired Sgt. Rick Mincey as a member of the board, gave an impassioned defense of his decision. He told a short story about his own upbringing and how racism against other races was considered normal. Councilman Henderson then said that his views changed as he interacted with people of other backgrounds, and with the minority members on the City Council.
He said he learned how to judge people based on their character, and not the color of their skin. He then asked his peers to judge the former officer based upon how he is as a person.
“I’m just asking to judge him by the content of his heart, not the color of his profession,” said Councilman Henderson, before asking fellow council members to consider a more practical aspect of his argument.
“I don’t know how we’re going to be able to recruit 21-year-old black male and females if they’ve been raised with the perception that all police officers are bad,” he said, arguing that having a former officer on the oversight committee would help build a connection between the police and the community.
Councilman Anthony Byrd voiced his support, saying that this appointment could help “cross lines” between the public and the police.
He said, "What if someone said we have an AA code, and bashed anyone who tried to do their job in a correct matter. It’d make you feel bad, it’d be reverse racism. And that’s one vote, it could destroy things. I hate that it’s 2019 and we’re having this conversation. And this seems like a conversation that people might have about me or Councilwoman Coonrod. So the reason I didn’t say anything is because in 2019, at some point, we have to change. We have to combine and start crossing those lines - Lookout Mountain and Avondale. That’s why I say we should try and give this a chance."
However, Councilman Russell Gilbert said there had been several former police officers who had told him the appointee was not a good candidate, and “not fit” to be on the committee.