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In my hometown of Chapel Hill, NC, the police department is openly defying orders from the Town Council #chtc
Town Council ordered a ban on chokeholds and the police just... didn't. The Chief did not obey
If the people, via elected officials, don't control the police, who does? https://twitter.com/leestorrow/status/1304189270727553029
Town Council ordered a ban on chokeholds and the police just... didn't. The Chief did not obey
If the people, via elected officials, don't control the police, who does? https://twitter.com/leestorrow/status/1304189270727553029
The @newsobserver covers the story pretty well:
In June, Chapel Hill Town Council #chtc approved a package of changes and reforms. Some were complicated. Some were not.
In plain English, the Council banned chokeholds.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article243783677.html
In June, Chapel Hill Town Council #chtc approved a package of changes and reforms. Some were complicated. Some were not.
In plain English, the Council banned chokeholds.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article243783677.html
Last week, after the Town Council's normal summer recess, the Council reconvened.
The police chief revealed that his department just disregarded the Council's clear order.
Instead of banning chokeholds, the police defined when they would use them.
https://www.newsobserver.com/article245612045.html
The police chief revealed that his department just disregarded the Council's clear order.
Instead of banning chokeholds, the police defined when they would use them.
https://www.newsobserver.com/article245612045.html
In last week's meeting, police chief says "I believe it reflects the interest of the council" not to ban chokeholds
Council Member @stegman4CH is nearly speechless. "With all due respect, I'm not sure it DOES meet Council's interest."
(starting ~1h01m: http://chapelhill.granicus.com/player/clip/4276?view_id=7&redirect=true
Council Member @stegman4CH is nearly speechless. "With all due respect, I'm not sure it DOES meet Council's interest."
(starting ~1h01m: http://chapelhill.granicus.com/player/clip/4276?view_id=7&redirect=true
Council Member @AllenBuansi agrees. "We had a pretty robust discussion about this particular provision and the exact language we wanted."
CM @Jess4Council, who had not supported the ban, concurs w/ Stegman & Buansi. "We as a Council asked for a complete ban on chokeholds."
CM @Jess4Council, who had not supported the ban, concurs w/ Stegman & Buansi. "We as a Council asked for a complete ban on chokeholds."
Just about all of the Council Members seem flabbergasted. CM/Mayor pro tem @michaelparker1 rightly points out, if the police chief/town manager thinks a Council order is misguided, they can come back to discuss it.
They can NOT unilaterally decide which orders to follow or not.
They can NOT unilaterally decide which orders to follow or not.
The job of the police chief is not to play constitutional scholar and second-guess the intent of clearly worded Council measures when he dislikes them. His job is to protect and serve.
If the police chief refuses to even OBEY the people of Chapel Hill, how can he serve them?
If the police chief refuses to even OBEY the people of Chapel Hill, how can he serve them?
In a democracy, the people must have control over the government, ESPECIALLY over the government's use of force.
A police force that is not subject to the people's will is indistinguishable from a gang.
My hometown of Chapel Hill, as do people around the world, deserves better.
A police force that is not subject to the people's will is indistinguishable from a gang.
My hometown of Chapel Hill, as do people around the world, deserves better.
Some folks started a petition. If you're connected to Chapel Hill and are interested in its democracy please consider signing. https://twitter.com/leestorrow/status/1305679156076834823
