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 three candidates for Place 6 on the council. Scroll to the bottom for information on the procedures of this Q&A.
Jim Hotze
Jim Hotze
Jim Hotze did not respond to this question by the deadline.
Mandy Nathan
Mandy Nathan
Needless to say, the Tolan shooting and its repercussions remain an issue that is of great concern to both individual residents and the Bellaire community as a whole. Because the incident is the subject of pending criminal proceedings against the officer involved and a civil lawsuit against the City, however, I don’t feel I should comment more specifically than to say that it is my hope that these events will ultimately provide the opportunity to both address image issues regarding the City’s interaction with the Houston community at large, and ensure that every Bellaire resident feels a part of our community. Our Police Department does an excellent job of providing the high level of safety and security that is one of the reasons we live in Bellaire, and the both the Department and the City can benefit from fostering a reputation of fair treatment, in fact and perception.
Scott Scheinthal
Scott Scheinthal
As you know, I currently serve on Bellaire’s Building and Standards Commission. As such I am a city official with certain obligations and responsibilities. Since there is a pending criminal case against Sergeant Cotton, and pending civil litigation against the City of Bellaire , it would be highly reckless and improper for me to comment about the specifics of the Robbie Tolan tragedy.
What I will say is related to my personal experiences. My family and I have found the City of Bellaire Police Department to be very professional and helpful. When my family first moved to Bellaire, I accidently left our garage door open one night. When this was spotted by an eagle-eyed patrol car, the officer called my home at 3 A.M. to make sure everything was fine. I very much appreciated this level of service.
Best regards,
Scott Scheinthal
Candidate for Bellaire City Council, Position 6
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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.
