Residents Air Grievances With Police at Forum
Montgomery County residents aired their grievances against county police Thursday night, sharing thoughts that the police can’t be trusted by people of color.
They raised questions about last year’s killing of Robert White by an officer, and why the police hassled a group of African-American men outside a White Oak McDonald’s. In the second case, a white officer is heard using the “N-word.”
One woman said she was already teaching her 9-year-old son what to say if he is ever stopped by a police officer. The boy has been instructed to say nothing until he sees his lawyer.
“I don’t want to have to teach him that,” the woman said.
The forum, lasting nearly two hours at Kennedy Hugh School in Wheaton, drew about 200 people. Dozens asked questions or shared comments.
The comments were to be collected and used as County Executive Marc Elrich chooses a replacement for longtime Chief Tom Manger
Manger retired in April. Russell Hamill was acting chief until he took a job as Laurel’s police chief this month. Marcus Jones is now the acting chief.
Elrich and Councilmember Will Jawando hosted the session. They made few comments.
“We don’t need another jailer,” said Barry Moultrie of Rockville of the next police chief. Instead, he said the new chief should be a humanitarian who understands preventative policing
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