City Councilman Earl Sheridan wants the community to know more about the Wilmington Police Department’s policies and procedures in light of the ongoing protests in Ferguson, Missouri, and other incidents grabbing headlines both nationally and locally.
At the close of city council’s meeting Tuesday night, Sheridan asked City Manager Sterling Cheatham to arrange a presentation by Chief Ralph Evangelous, “considering some of the things that are going on in the country right now,” referring to events in Missouri, New York and Wilmington this year.
Violent protests have continued in Ferguson, Missouri, since the death of an unarmed black male who was allegedly shot multiple times by a police officer.
Sheridan asked that Evangelous give a presentation to council at a meeting that detailed the following:
- community relations training for officers;
- training for diffusing tense or deadly situations;
- tactical weapons used by the department and policies regarding their use;
- whether the department has considered the use of uniform cameras for officers;
- diversity within the department; and
- procedures for dealing with charges of excessive force.
According to the department’s internal affairs annual report, the total number of use of force incidents reported by the department increased last year, from 201 in 2012 to 232 in 2013—an increase of 15.42 percent.
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @jrspiers
