'Reimagine Policing' Task Force To Hold Public Hearings

BROOKLINE, MA — After months of researching and discussing the roles of the Brookline Police Department, the Task Force To Reimagine Policing is holding a series of public hearings for each of its subcommittees, culminating in a hearing for the Task Force as a whole.

“It's been really exciting work,” said Raul Fernandez, chair of the task force. “It's been very difficult work, but very exciting work, because we’ve had an opportunity to learn more about what the police department does, but also to find some areas where we think we as a community can be doing a whole lot better. In many ways the police department, we found, has been investing resources into social services because no one else was.”

The Task Force was formed in July of last year with an intention to “explore and recommend new approaches to public safety and policing in Brookline,” according to the group’s founding document.

“It was about issues in Minneapolis and Louisville and elsewhere, but it was also about issues here in Brookline,” Fernandez said of the decision to create the task force.

Everyone in the task force and on the subcommittees is a volunteer, and most of them have been meeting at least once per week since August. They’re Brookliners who want to make sure the city feels safe for everyone, Fernandez said. After this week’s meetings, the subcommittee will revise their draft proposals based on the public comments.

Fernandez said it’s become clear that small tweaks to the system are not enough, in Brookline or anywhere else. He’s hopeful that the hearings will show that the changes were suggested with the Brookline community’s needs in mind. Fernandez said there have been reform committees in Brookline before, but not much came of it.

“I’m hopeful that we won’t miss this opportunity this time,” he said.

Here’s a look at the hearings coming up this week:

School Resource Officer Subcommittee Public Hearing
Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 1 to 2 p.m.

Walk and Talk Program Subcommittee Public Hearing
Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 9 to 10 a.m.

Envisioning and Community Engagement Subcommittee Public Hearing
Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Vulnerable People and People in Crisis Subcommittee Public Hearing
Thursday, Feb. 4 from 6 to 7 p.m.

Task Force to Reimagine Policing Public Hearing
Wednesday, Feb. 17, beginning at 7 p.m.

Past Hearings:

Departmental Analysis Subcommittee Public Hearing
Jan. 27, 3 to 4 p.m.