RESIDENTS CALL FOR POLICE REVIEW BOARD, MORE TRAINING

Residents of the Clearview community on Saturday made several
suggestions to improve relations between black Gallatin citizens and
the mostly white Gallatin Police Department.

Those suggestions included more police presence on Roosevelt Circle
during the week, a citizen's review panel and more training for
young officers about how to deal with the public.

"Chief, tell your police officers that every black person is not a
drug dealer," said Walter Hollerman, a retired Sumner County School teacher.

City Councilman John D. Alexander, who represents the fifth district
that includes Clearview, organized a community meeting between
residents and police after several residents complained at a recent
city council meeting about racial profiling by the police department.

As Alexander looked around at the more than 50 faces in the room ay
Key Stewart United Methodist Church he encouraged black residents to
attend more city council meetings and to file complaints with the
Gallatin Police department so that allegations of profiling and
other practices could be investigated.

"We have got to let the chief know," Alexander said.

Gallatin police Chief John Tisdale and several of his officers
attended the forum as did several city department heads, the mayor
and council members Ed Mayberry, Anne Kemp and Dale Bennett. County
Commissioner Harold Gilbert also attended the forum.

Residents who attended the meeting cited several instances of being
pulled over or stopped while walking and questioned about drugs or
alcohol activity.

"It's not the officers who are the problems, it's the attitude
behind the badges," said Derrick Woods who admitted to being
arrested in the past for drug use.

"I have paid my dues," said Woods who asked that police look at him
now as a person rather than the drug user he used to be.

Another resident, Pamela Hall said that police should treat people
the way they want to be treated.

"I am looking for more hospitality out of officers," said Hall.

Residents made several other suggestions to improve police relations
with the Clearview community including a citizen review panel to
investigate citizen allegations against the police department.

Alexander said he would support a citizens review panel, "if the
right people are on there."

"I would like to see church leaders, city officials, and older
people as well as business people," said Alexander.

Tisdale pointed out that residents with complaints can air their
grievances in an official complaint at the police department or in
court and with the city council.

"I have 56 (sworn officers) employees," Tisdale said. "All employees
don't do everything that we would like."

If an officer mistreats someone or is rude, "I need to know," he said.

"I don't want people being mistreated," Tisdale said.

Tisdale introduced Sgt. Kate Novitsky, Commanders Dennis Thrasher
and Caldwell Jenkins as the officers who would investigate any
alleged wrongdoing on behalf of the police.

Alexander cautioned people who commit illegal acts against
complaining about the police department.

"If our children or our cousin or our friend is dealing in drugs,
it's wrong. Don't holler police harassment when you got drugs on
you," Alexander said.

Tisdale thought the meeting provided an opportunity for ideas to be exchanged.

"Anytime you exchange concerns and ideas it's a good thing," Tisdale said.