FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/17/19
Madeleine Shelton
Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight
817-225-5678
WhatsHappening@IDK.com
The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight Calls for a Community Police Oversight Working Group
FORT WORTH, Texas — The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight is calling for the city of Fort Worth to enstate a Community Police Oversight Working Group to make sure that all members of the community have ample opportunity in determining the creation of the oversight board instead of the city leaders sitting with the power by January 1st, 2020.
Pamela Young, co-founder and community organizer of the TCCCO, stated, “It’s time to take action. It’s time to do what is right. We are asking the city of Fort Worth to formalize a police oversight board. We must protect our citizens from those who are supposed to protect us.” The Community Police Oversight Working Group’s purpose would be to create the best plan to help remedy problems that members of the community have historically had with police as evidenced by data from the Criminal Justice Committee.
The Race and Culture task force recommended a community police oversight board after their findings. They would meet regularly and the body would be comprised of a variety of groups. The TCCCO is also calling on the meetings to be facilitated by a neutral facilitator, they have recommended Estrus Tucker.
“This working group would be closed and confidential, meeting multiple times. TCCCO is also calling on the city to ensure that everything discussed in these meetings is framed from a community perspective and not a police centric narrative. The working group will also be involved in the planning process of the Office of Police Oversight.” Young said.
The working group would meet multiple times, and all meetings would be closed and confidential. During the first meeting there would be three to four representatives from TCCCO and two to three representatives from the Criminal Justice of the Race and Culture Task Force Committee, the New Police Monitor, FW chief of police, FW city manager, a representative of the City of Fort Worths legal team, and the attorney for TCCCO would be in attendance. The second meeting would include the people from the first meeting, as well as the assistant city manager for the police dept, and one representative from all three of the local police officer association.
-The first week’s purpose would be to come up with a plan.
-The second meeting’s purpose would be to present them with the agreed-upon plan and get feedback and determine solutions.
-The third week the working group would present the plan to the community at large by city quadrants to receive input and feedback.
The city council members will be present at all quadrant meetings which would be hosted by the Office of Police Oversight. On Tuesday, February 18th, they will cover the southeast quadrant, districts four, five, six and eight will be covered. Thursday, February 20th, the southwest quadrant, districts three, six, eight and nine. During week nine the northwest quadrant will be covered, districts two, three, seven and nine on Tuesday, February 25th. Thursday, February 27th. Northeast two, four, five and seven. During week 10, there will be a third private working group meeting. During week 11, present the final plan, with consensus from all parties, to the city council.
About The TCCCO
Our mission is to build and sustain fair and equitable treatment for all those who reside in Tarrant County, through community-led accountability of government and other systems. We are a campaign of United Fort Worth’s criminal justice action team. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pg/tcccoversight/about/?ref=page_internal
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Email Pitch:
Reporter: Diane Smith/Star-Telegram
Subject Line: The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight Calls for a Community Police Oversight Working Group
Hi Dianne,
As you likely know, The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight is calling for the city of Fort Worth to enstate a Community Police Oversight Working Group to make sure that all members of the community have ample opportunity in determining the creation of the oversight board instead of bestowing the city leaders with the power by January 1st, 2020.
The working group would meet multiple times, and all meetings would be closed and confidential.
Please see the attached media advisory for details. We hope you can join us to learn more about the different roles this local agency plays.
Thanks!
Madeleine
Phone Pitch:
Hi Diane, it’s Madeleine from the Creative Currency, how are you?
I just wanted to call you to touch base on the media advisory I sent you in regards to The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight calling for a Community Police Oversight Working Group, do you mind if I share some more information with you?
The TCCCO is calling for the city of Fort Worth to enstate a Community Police Oversight Working Group. The purpose of this working group would be to make sure that all members of the community have ample opportunity in determining the creation of the oversight board instead of bestowing the city leaders with the power.
Would you be interested in speaking with someone from one of the partner agencies to learn more about how we’re working to ensure safety for every child in Fort Worth?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/17/19
Madeleine Shelton
Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight
817-225-5678
WhatsHappening@IDK.com
Fort Worth Has a Problem, and The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight is Here To Help.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth has an issue. With multiple accusations and charges against its police department, the city is growing weary. The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight is an organization based in Fort Worth that is working to stop the injustice and inequality within the city.
With the recent shooting of Atatiana Jefferson, the issue of inequality in the criminal justice system is more prevalent than ever. Addressing the systematic issues within the culture of the police department the people of Fort Worth are looking at other cities with the same issues. Cities such as Austin, Texas, San Fransico, Ca, and Boston, Ma, all have community oversight boards. The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversite has not only been publicly speaking and educating peoples in the community about the issue and demanding an oversight board, but they have been actively trying to make a difference.
Protecting citizen’s rights, supporting effective policing, and increasing confidence in police are all part of the positive change that bringing in a community oversight board would do for the city of Fort Worth.
About The TCCCO
Our mission is to build and sustain fair and equitable treatment for all those who reside in Tarrant County, through community-led accountability of government and other systems. We are a campaign of United Fort Worth’s criminal justice action team. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pg/tcccoversight/about/?ref=page_internal
Dear Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Hello, my name is Madeleine Shelton, I am a student at the University of Texas contacting you as a consultant for the Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight in regards to scheduling a meeting.
The TCCCO is an organization representing the people of Fort Worth helping the community to build and sustain equitable treatment for the people of Tarrant County through community a lead police oversight board.
As a member of the Fort Worth Community, a member that has seen inequality first hand, I urge you to take this opportunity to support not only your local community but to encourage equality in the justice system across the nation.
Best,
Madeleine Shelton
KEY MESSAGES:
- Fort Worth has had recurring issues regarding inequality in the criminal justice system. People have been treated with disrespect and unwarranted force.
- The police monitor needs to report to the same people that the police department reports to.
- The unwarranted force that has been used on citizens is muffling their voices.
- Over 150 communities have oversight boards currently, communities who have the same issues.
- A Community Oversight Board would create more transparency between the citizens of Tarrant County and the Police Department.
- A Community Oversight Board would ease citizens’ worries thus creating a more welcoming environment.
- What has been suggested is a weak version of what has been proposed. The suggestion will not make any permanent and lasting change in the community.
TCCCO
Leave Behind
The TCCCO is an organization that is aiming to help the community of Fort Worth through the creation and implementation of a community oversight board.
The Brief:
The TCCCO is working to promote equality in the city and bring criminal injustice to a halt. We believe that the police monitor needs to report to the same entity that the police department. The TCCCO would like to work with the local government to bring a sense of ease and equality to the community.
TCCCO:
The TCCCO is working with local politicians and community members alike to bring injustices to light and help create a welcoming environment for people of all walks of life through a community-led oversight board.