Does any step in the hiring process actively seek out information on and take into account verbal indications, social ties, examples of extremism, or biases that the applicant has demonstrated or has been said to have demonstrated in the past by others?
My name is Maria Laird, I live in downtown Frederick and my question is: Would it be possible to require an associates or a bachelor's degree before being employed by the FPD? Preferably a degree related to criminal justice. I believe that our police are not as educated as they should be on the law. A lawyer has to go to school for seven years to practice law, but law enforcement officers don't have any schooling higher than a high school diploma. I believe it is important for our law enforcement officers to be better educated on the laws as they are the ones carrying out the law. I believe a higher education standard would also help our police officers understand why unnecessary force is wrong and how to have more informed discourse with a potential criminal.
In 2008 a partially-deaf young black man named Jarrel Gray was killed after Rudy Torres tased him twice, including once when he was already on the ground. Why are we still allowing our police to use these deadly weapons 12 years later when we know they can be fatal? How many deaths will it take before their use is discontinued?
Chuck Jenkins has consistently proven himself to be one of the most abhorrently racist Sheriffs in the country. His tenure has included everything from statistically-provable systemic racism, fighting to keep documents from being printed in languages other than English, and just 2 weeks ago saying "All Lives Matter" when confronted by his constituents about police brutality.
What has Sheriff Jenkins done that would make communities of color, or any non-racist community for that matter, trust his leadership?
In 2013 three Frederick police officers killed Ethan Saylor, a man with Down syndrome, over a $10 movie ticket. Rich Rochford, one of those officers, still works for the Frederick Police Department. Why should we accept that he's paid to protect us after this heinous act?
How could the budget for explosives, tear gas, and other military type objects be better used to promote mental health, stable housing and jobs, etc?
Will you commit to outlawing dangerous and illegitimate use of chokeholds, tear gas, and military gear? Will you commit to defunding the police AND reinvesting in our communities?
What is FPD's policy on police disciplinary records? Is there a way for the public to access officer records so they can hold elected officials accountable with respect to police oversight?