By Brandon Johnson
Contributing Writer
Published 07.03.2014 Edition
In most communities of color there is often a disconnect between the people and the law enforcement that serves them. There is misconception, misunderstanding and most often, as new policies and laws are constantly added, miseducation. “It’s not fair that some people know their rights but other people don’t know their rights and I think this will help the relationship between the community and law enforcement,” says President of the NAACP San Diego Branch, Lei-Chala I. Wilson, Esq.
In an effort to create some transparency, the NAACP, in association with the San Diego Black Police Officers Association and Bayview Baptist Church Community Concerns Ministry, recently hosted their 3rd forum “Close Encounters of the ‘Cop’ Kind: Know your Rights” at Bayview Baptist Church. This was a discussion on what to do and what not to do when contacted by law enforcement, as well as what constitutional rights citizens have.
Concerns raised by the attendees were that of racial profiling, curb sitting, the definition of being under arrest or detained, and at what point can you walk away from an officer. Also discussed was the proper way to file a complaint. Guests were educated on traffic stop procedures, the need of consent to be given in order for your person or belongings to be searched as well as detailed information on the new installation of body cameras that will start in the Southeast and Central San Diego areas and should be on 1000 officers city wide by the end of fiscal year 2015.
“I found that a lot of people in the community don’t know what their rights are, I think an informed community is a better community and when people understand what their rights are they are able to exercise them. I think everybody left with some new information and I think people feel a little more empowered because now they sort of understand what they can do and what the police can do,” Wilson shared.”
On hand to give insight as well as answer questions were a gracious panel of professionals that included:
Petrina M. Branch Esq., NAACP SD Branch Political Action Chair and Past President SDPD Sgt./Det Ben Kelso President, SDBPOA SDPD Sgt./Det. Bryan Pendleton President, NBOA, Western Region Dr. Danell Scarborough, Executive Director San Diego Citizens’ Review Board on Police Practices, and L. Marcel Stewart, Esq. Criminal Defense and Civil Rights Attorney-Former Asst. US Attorney (Prosecutor).
Photography by Brandon Johnson
