Tampa Mayor's Community Task Force On Policing Shares Findings

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Police Chief Brian Dugan and University of South Florida associate criminology professor Bryanna Fox presented key findings from the Mayor's Community Task Force on Policing Saturday during a Facebook Live event.

In the wake of city protests and accusations of police brutality following the death of George Floyd May 25, Castor formed the Mayor’s Community Task Force on Policing to bring together community leaders, activists and experts to discuss police reform and racial injustice.

The group, led by Fox, has been meeting regularly since June and is now ready to share its conclusions with the community.

“The work this task force is doing is so important to ensuring that our police department’s policies and procedures align with the evolving expectations and needs of our community,” Castor said. “The Tampa Police Department is committed to building strong relationships with residents across our city, and we look forward to hearing the findings of this working group so that we can continue taking progressive steps forward together.”

Additionally, Dugan has now formed a Chief's Community Advisory Team that will weigh in on issues concerning the police department on an ongoing basis.

Dugan selected 10 people from various neighbors in the city to serve as community liaisons and make suggestions on how to build trust and better relationships between the police and the community.

The team members, who have been appointed to one-year terms, will meet one on one with the chief to discuss police conduct and actions occurring in their neighborhoods and the city at large.

"I'm excited to work with community members who are involved in their neighborhoods and can provide their thoughts on policing in the city of Tampa," Dugan said.

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