2017-2-7_PR Comm Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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be driving through the same area just 10 to 15 minutes after the deadly confrontation. “It really hit home for me because I am a black man, and I drive past that intersection all the time,” explains Newby.“It made me think, ‘that could have been me.’” That realization prompted Newby to initiate a dialogue between Roseville residents and city officials, which meant calling a council member and the mayor to get the ball rolling. The next step was forming a committee comprised of 20 volunteers and out of that group, a smaller planning committee to develop the actual event. The small committee included Newby, Roseville Mayor Dan Roe and Chief of Police Rick Mathwig. The group named this series of discussions Imagine Roseville, which evolved from an earlier city project. Addressing Concerns In the beginning, Newby notes, there was some concern that because the Castile shooting had attracted national media attention, protesters — whether for or against law enforcement — might try to disrupt the Imagine Roseville discussion. “In the end, we decided we’re just going to go ahead and it’s going to be a community event,” recalls Newby. “If the anti-cop protestors are going to show up, then they can and if the pro-cop protestors want to show up, they can as well. But, we are going to focus this as a community event, not sponsored or opposed by anyone.” Roseville advertised the event on social media, in the local newspaper, and on flyers posted at city hall and at the library. Citizens were asked to RSVP but only to gauge attendance — no one would be turned away. On October 4, the city held its first Imagine Roseville: Community, Policing and Race in Roseville discussion, featuring a panel that included Newby; two area high school students; Molli Slade, a community health worker; and Metropolitan State University Professor Donald Eubanks. Nearly 200 peopleattended the inaugural event. The Imagine Roseville discussion began with panel members sharing their reactions to the fatal shooting of Castile along with their concerns about racial profiling, especially in the case of African- American males. Offering the youth perspective, two female high school students talked about how the schooladministration needed to do a better job addressing racism and racial profiling. Next, Roseville Police Chief Mathwig discussed the police department’s policy on use of force, including what happens during a police stop, how officers deal with use of force and when law enforcement is allowed to employ it. Candid Discussions About Racial Profiling Thehighlight of the evening was during the group discussions, where community members shared their responses to three questions. Each table had 30 minutes to discuss the following: What was your reaction to the Philando Castile shooting and other recent events in the news? What role do you think race plays in policing? Who would be hurt or at risk without law enforcement?