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.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/651000
MARCH 9-15, 2016 UCW 11 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Harold Medlock has been Fayetteville's Chief of Police for more than three years. His idea of community polic- ing is in sharp contrast to many other urban police executives. "I just think the police department needs to be en- gaged in the community," said Medlock when asked about the high profile he keeps. "It's more about the police department being part of the community rather than an occupying force." Medlock granted Up & Coming Weekly an interview in the wake of a young black man being shot by police in Raleigh. He believes investigations of officer-involved shootings must be completed quickly. "I will put out all relevant information, good, bad or indifferent," said the chief. "We owe it to our citizens to share as much information as we can as soon as we can rather than to allow rumors and anger to fester. If, God forbid, we have an officer-involved shooting, you can ex- pect me to release all that I can before the evening news." An internal investigation shouldn't take more than 90 days, Medlock says. His decisions on police conduct would come immediately thereafter. Medlock said he would not wait for an SBI investigation to be completed, because the investigations can some- times take up to a year. "Yes, I think I would," was his response when asked if he would encour- age city council to immediately release video camera footage of officer involved incidents. Council has that authority according to City Attorney Karen McDonald. "It would have no bearing on criminal or civil cases because it is what it is," said Medlock. He says the state legislature should loosen privacy laws that prevent full disclosure of misconduct. The chief also believes videos of day-to-day situations faced by the police should be made public. The chief 's transparency policy requires that the names of officers involved in use-of-force situations be released as soon as their families are notified. "We just don't believe in the Fayetteville Police Department that anything should be withheld," he said. Medlock brought big city law enforcement philosophies to Fayetteville when he came here from Charlotte in 2013. As for appearances, he believes "cops ought to look like cops," that they don't need to be walking around in intimidating uniforms. He was quick to add that American police these days must be able to match the firepower of the bad guys. Semi-automatic high-velocity rifles are stan- dard issue for most Fayetteville police officers, in addition to their side arms. Medlock says communicating with the public in diffi- cult circumstances is critical. He spoke of situations that result in tactical teams using armored vehicles. He rec- ognizes the need to keep crowds that gather informed of what's going on and why. The chief 's wish list includes a camera- equipped unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone, which could provide officers full view of certain settings. He says unconventional equipment has become mandatory in order to keep people safe. "The difference is when we use them we need to be able to tell the people who are watching us what we're up to," Med- lock added. NEWS Police Shootings and the Community by JEFF THOMPSON Locations & Hours Locations & Hours Identication Required in 2016 One-Stop Voting Sites Board of Elections Oce 227 Fountainhead Lane March 11 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Clidale Rec. Center 6404 Clidale Road East Regional Library 4809 Clinton Road Hope Mills Rec. Center 5766 Rocksh Road North Regional Library 855 McArthur Road March 11 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. March 12 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. In 2016 registerd voters will be required to show acceptable photo ID at the Polls. Examples of acceptable photo ID include North Carolina driver's license or ID card, passport, military ID, Veterans Administration care and certain tribal ID cards. Information on required ID, or options for citizens who don't have or are not able to obtain an ID can be found online at voterID.nc.gov or by calling toll-free 866-522-4723. JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter. COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200. Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock Cape Fear Studios presents ~ Showing through March 21, 2016 is exhibit showcases a fusion of large, vibrant oil paintings and varied collection of exquisite ceramic work: a total sensory immersion into an Asian paradise. In Gallery Too ~ Nancy Mabes's FTCC Art Class Exhibit An Asian inspired collaboration by member artists Annette Szczekutek and Guy Jencks