Actions to take regarding allegations of racial profiling in the Bellaire Police Department is the subject of the fourth question in InstantnewsBellaire’s Q&A series with Bellaire City Council candidates.
We asked candidates:
In the wake of the Tolan shooting incident early this year, the Bellaire Police Department came under fire for alleged racial profiling. Do you believe changes need to be made at the Bellaire Police Department to address those concerns? If so, what changes would you like to see?
Here are the answers from the four candidates for Place 5 on the council. Scroll to the bottom for information on the procedures of this Q&A.
Tina Blum-Cohen
Tina Blum-Cohen
I was not witness to the Tolan incident so it would be unfair of me to comment on it. But I think it is also unfair to accuse the entire Bellaire police department of racial profiling because of a single incident.
Andrew Friedberg
Andrew Friedberg
Given the pending legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate for any city official or candidate for office to comment on this case. Accordingly I decline to do so.
In the abstract, however, I am proud to support the Bellaire Police Department and grateful for the men and women who serve and protect us. Our strong police department is one of our community’s greatest assets and I sincerely hope that one incident does not taint the reputation of the entire department. By providing our officers with the necessary resources and training, we can help them continue to do their jobs effectively and in a professional manner.
Yet, I recognize that there may be a perception out there from encounters with police that Bellaire is not always a welcoming community, whether along racial or socioeconomic lines, and I think it is important that we address that issue. I hope that over time, through community outreach efforts, we can build stronger relationships with all of our neighbors and restore public trust. I believe this process starts with improved communication, such as providing opportunities for more frequent interaction between concerned residents and our police leadership, as has been employed with success in other cities.
James Jameson
I think everybody agrees that the Tolan incident was tragic. I agree with the Mayor’s comments that we should keep that family in our prayers and wish them the best.
However, the facts of that particular incident are still under investigation and will eventually come out in the legal proceedings. In my opinion, until such time as the facts are fully developed, it would be irresponsible for a candidate to comment on that incident or recommend any policy changes.
Until such time as competent evidence is presented of any wrongdoing, we have to rely on the presumption of innocence. Any policy changes should be made on facts and not rumors or emotional media stories.
Generally speaking, our police department does an excellent job and are very responsive to the community. We need to realize that crime prevention is a partnership with the community and every citizen needs to do their part to keep Bellaire safe and secure. We all need to be good neighbors and be aware of what is going on in our neighborhoods. I would encourage the police to be more engaged in our community with bike patrols and programs that focus on neighborhood watch groups.
Crime prevention and security is the first priority of city government and I will ensure that our police departments are fully funded and trained.
Johnnie Frazier
Johnnie Frazier
Johnnie Frazier did not respond to this question by the deadline.
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In this series, candidates receive questions twice per week and have 24 hours to respond with an answer that is less than 300 words long. The answers publish with no editing. Do you have a question for candidates about Bellaire issues? Please email it to agrant [at] instantnewsbellaire [dot] com.
