Manchester Dem Directors Pledge Police Department 'Examination'

MANCHESTER, CT — In a letter to the community distributed to media outlets Wednesday, Democratic members of the Manchester Board of Directors pledged "a full and transparent examination of the Manchester Police Department," amid recent social tensions in the wake of "fatal encounters" involving law enforcement both locally and in Minnesota.

The local incident is currently being investigated by an appointed neutral party — the Tolland County state's attorney. A preliminary finding determined the suspect, "was not going to go with (officers) peacefully." See details of the case here.

Here is the transcript of the letter:

"As the events of recent weeks have unfolded, the members of the Democratic Caucus of the Manchester Board of Directors want to reaffirm our commitment to our residents, in particular our Black and Brown residents.

• We see you.
• We acknowledge your pain.
• We share in your grief.
• We stand with you in this fight for equity and justice.
• Your lives MATTER.

"Manchester is not, and has not been, immune to violent and fatal encounters between law enforcement and residents of color. An officer-involved shooting here, on April 2, 2020, resulted in the death of our fellow resident, Jose Soto. This tragic loss of life occurred on a cold and rainy evening in the early days of the COVID-19 shutdown, amid the anxiety and uncertainty of this slow-moving, ongoing crisis. And against this backdrop of so much uncertainty, we recognize that for many, the terror associated with police interaction is a certainty. Whether it manifests as an elevated heart rate when a squad car passes by, or a bead of sweat that forms on your lip as an officer walks toward you on the street, the horror is real, and it is palpable.

"These harsh realities require us to act. We are committed to a full and transparent examination of the Manchester Police Department. We are committed to the ongoing dialogue and action necessary to support true and meaningful change. We are committed to examining our own biases. We are committed to challenging systems of oppression.

"We are committed to doing this hard work with open hearts. James Baldwin said, “We’ve got to be as clear-headed about human beings as possible, because we are still each other’s only hope.” We ask that you join us on this journey of hope as we endeavor to be of service to you, so that these tragedies are not in vain. Together we will seize this opportunity for change."

Jay Moran, Mayor

Sarah L. Jones, Deputy Mayor

Yolanda Castillo, Secretary

Pamela Floyd-Cranford, Director

Timothy Bergin, Director

Dennis Schain, Director