Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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8 UCW JANUARY 12, 2022 - JANUARY 18, 2022 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NEWS Last month, the Fayetteville City Council decided who would be on the Community Police Advisory Board. e board func- tion is to hear about concerns and complaints about potential police misconduct involving the Fayetteville Police Department. In addition, they will help review and recommend ways to improve police department policies and practices. According to the board charter, the nine board members and one alternate will meet monthly. However, their first meeting has not yet been scheduled. e board is composed of six men and four women — many with previous police experience or who have worked/volunteered with police departments in the past. e majority of the board is also African-American with one Hispanic member and three Caucasian members. Here is an introduction to who will serve on the board, their personal history, and how long each person will be on the com- mission. Debra Slaughter Slaughter, who will be serv- ing a one-year term, is an Office Administrator for the non-profit Operation Inasmuch. "I want to be part of the solu- tion and not part of the prob- lem," Slaughter said on her appli- cation. "e best way I see to do that is to become a member of a committee that will impact the relationship between the citizens of Fayetteville and our police department." She says her primary concern is that many citizens view police officers as the enemy so, officers need to have relationships with the communities they serve, ac- cording to Slaughter. She would like the board to ad- dress the issue of equity in police stops, an expansion of the Police Activity League program, and reach out to elementary schools to educate students about police. Gregory Perkins Perkins, who will be serving a one-year term, is a contributing faculty member at Walden Uni- versity and is a volunteer chap- lain for FPD. He also previously served as a Juvenile Probation Officer. "I believe that through assess- ing specific community profiles within the city, I can potentially assist the Police Department in developing citizen-based ac- tion forum to serve as a positive commitment to serve all citizens within the city," Perkins wrote on his application. He says that the media has portrayed police officers as in- sensitive and power-hungry, and citizens need to obey the law to promote healthy relationships with the police department. Perkins would like the board to ask FPD leadership what the top five most pressing issues are for FPD and how the city can help support them. Jacqueline Clay Clay, who will be serving for a two-year term, is a retired police officer. She worked as a patrol officer in Zone 1. After retire- ment, she served as Acting Chief during her employment with the Fayetteville State University Police Department. "As a retired police officer with 21 years experience on the street, and as an administrator I am familiar with steps on how to achieve best practices, and as an experienced officer in the field, I know the importance of com- munity policing and gaining the confidence of the community," Clay said on her application. She believes trust is needed from both citizens and the po- lice. Clay says that citizens have to have confidence in those they rely on to serve and protect the community. At the same time, police need to treat the commu- nity as they want to be treated and be held to a greater standard of professionalism. Jim Bove Bove, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Air Force. He previously worked as a Point Information Officer and Community Outreach Facilitator for the Redmond Police Depart- ment in Washington state. "Any opportunity to create con- versations and answer questions. is allows both police and resi- dents to understand one another and it gives officers the opportu- nity to be seen as humans," Bove wrote on his application. He believes citizens need to communicate with the police department and ask questions, while officers need to interact with the community and create relationships. He would like to see the board address community and media relations and how best to navi- gate a public reputation. Juana Magnum Magnum, who will serve as the alternate, is a victim services coordinator for the Robeson County Sheriff 's Office. She has been working in victim services and victim advocacy for over thirteen years. She also served as a corrections officer for the North Carolina Department of Corrections in the late 1990s. "As a victim of a burglary, I know how it feels to be victim- ized, but on the flip side of that, as a victim advocate, I know how important it is to empathize with and assist the victim," Magnum said on her application. She believes officers need to be sympathetic with people who call 911 and ask for their assis- tance. She says that even though some calls may seem or sound outlandish, officers need to remember that what that person is experiencing at that moment is real to them. Citizens, she says, need to be cooperative when of- ficers come out to canvas neigh- borhoods and are willing to be open to them. She would like the board to address how elderly citizens are more fearful now because of CO- VID-19 and rising crime rates. Julie Alul Alul, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a retired Cumberland County School District employee. She was the Executive Director of Exception- al Children Services and worked with the Mental Health Con- sortium to start mental health services in the school system. "e pipeline to prison is a real thing in young adolescents and adults in our community that needs addressing in a more compassionate and knowledge- able way instead of just provid- ing School Resource Officers in the schools," Alul said on her application. She believes that police officers need to promote interactions that encourage understanding of citizens' concerns, needs and promote conversation outside of crises. Citizens also need to have knowledge of current prevention programs and work with police to prevent further incidents and problem-solve. She would like the board to ad- dress the current status of police activities, identify priorities and areas of most significant impact and needs, research and design programs that can be imple- mented and implement active engagement and relationship- building activities. Lionel Cartwright Cartwright, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a re- tired Army chief warrant officer and reverend. He also served as a chaplain for the Chad- bourn Police Department. He currently serves as a volunteer judge on the Teen Court at the Cumberland County Dispute Resolution Center. "I commend the Mayor and the City Council, on the merits of implementing the Community Police Advisory Board," Cart- wright said on his application. "I believe the board, coupled with the necessary resources and sup- port will prove to be an extreme- ly valuable resource in improv- Meet the Community Police Advisory Board by HANNAH LEE