Tucson police and other leaders came together Friday to say they will continue to work to keep dialogue open with communities of color as they reflect on the Dallas shootings that killed five officers and injured seven.
Acting Tucson Police Chief Ramon Batista, who was in charge Friday while Chief Chris Magnus was out of town for a family medical emergency, said police "have a solid relationship with our community" and "some of the finest men and women in law enforcement today."
At a news conference held with other community leaders, he said Tucson isn't perfect and there are many things law enforcement can do better. Batista said the department was selected as part of an initiative to provide support in advancing the recommendations of President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
Experts will work with the department by providing hands-on assessments and technical support to advance its policing practices.
"Our nation and our community is in a state of emergency," said Senior Pastor Da'Mond Holt, of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, who mentioned the deaths of two African-American men in Louisiana and Minnesota at the hands of police, which created turmoil in those communities.
The Dallas shootings led to the "assassination" of five officers who worked to "protect and serve" the community, said Holt. "We need to be more proactive and not reactive," said Holt, adding that police and the community must work together and build relationships.
"I weep for the officers who lost their lives and the young African-American men who lost their lives," said Doris J. Snowden, president of the NAACP Tucson Branch.
"We need love, understanding and forgiveness," said Snowden in an interview after the news conference at Tucson Police Department headquarters at 270 S. Stone Ave.
"We cannot live with hatred in our communities, and we need to revisit the right to bear arms because we do not need assault weapons to be given to people to go out and kill," said Snowden.
Others speaking included Tucson Police Capt. Chad Kasmar; Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos; Pastor Grady Scott, senior pastor of Grace Temple MBC; Deborah Embry, president of the Tucson Urban League; and Juaninta Molina, executive director of Border Action Network.
