RELEASED BY:   Dr. Rita Ali, Chairperson

Advisory Committee on Police Community Relations

DATE:               July 8, 2016

SUBJECT:       KEEPING THE PEACE

The Advisory Committee on Police Community Relations was reestablished in 2010, as a subcommittee to advise the Peoria City Council. A key element of the Committee’s purpose is to promote the peaceful dialogue between our community and law enforcement.

The Committee provides a platform and voice to anyone who seeks to peacefully contribute to the ongoing discussion of law enforcement’s important role in our community. The Committee recognizes the daily dedication of the Peoria Police Department to keeping our community safe and we are grateful for their contributions.

During the course of our work, the Committee has heard the frustrations of many in and outside our community. Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Missouri, Eric Garner’s death in New York, and the recent deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, highlights the concerns over the use of deadly force by law enforcement. We share these concerns over the brutal and senseless deaths and support peaceful protests and calls for change.

Last night in Dallas, one or more individuals resorted to deadly violence and overtook the peaceful majority’s Constitutional right to peaceful protest, while senselessly taking the lives of five members of law enforcement. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dallas law enforcement community and all those who were affected by this tragedy. Violence has no place in the on-going important discussion of equal civil rights for all. We also, hereby, express our support for officers of the Peoria Police Department and for those in our community who engage in expressions of their concerns through peaceful, nonviolent methods.