TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) -- Local officials and community leaders in Tallahassee and Leon County met Friday afternoon at Tallahassee City Hall to react to the recent incidents involving law enforcement in St. Paul, Minnesota, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dallas, Texas. In addition, they discussed community and police relations and how to move on from these trying times.
"While it didn't happen in Tallahassee, nevertheless it happened", said Rudy Ferguson, pastor of New Birth Tabernacle of Praise, "And because it happened, that is a problem for all of us."
Among the leaders were the Leon County Sheriff Mike Wood, Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo, local church leaders, as well as members of the City Commission. And while they all had different things to say, one thing was common: Unity.
"We are Tallahassee", said Commissioner Scott Maddox, "We stand together in unity.
Leaders stressed that our community and law enforcement need to be open with each other, even if that means discussing things that are difficult to talk about, like police brutality and violence against officers.
"The conversation has to be had. Sometimes its not always comfortable, and that's okay, because once again, the community doesn't always think exactly alike", said Wood, "But if you have the conversation, I think it diffuses the potential for discourse."
City and county officials reassured the community that they believe Tallahassee can be used as an example for others to follow, to hopefully prevent this from happening in our own backyard.
"And its time for us to say as a nation that its time for it to stop", said Commissioner Curtis Richardson. "I think that here in Tallahassee we can be a model for that. We are an 'All America City.'"
