CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla.(WTXL) - Over seventy Wakulla County officers and office personnel met at the Wakulla County Community Center, Tuesday to take part in the sheriff's office first diversity workshop. Sheriff Charlie Creel said it's a way for officers to learn how to follow policies and how to treat people in the community with dignity and courtesy.
The sheriff's office decided it was time officers understood it's model understanding of cultural and ethnic diversity after community members asked for more sensitivity from local law enforcement when it comes to racial backgrounds.
Diversity course facilitator Patrick Kelly took the group of officers, civilian staff, and volunteers through several procedures and included everyone in an answer and question portion. Kelly said "police officers see the negative society day in and day out and have to deal with other people's problems which is a heavy burden, but they have to know how to handle that professionally and respond with their training and not react with their emotions."
Sheriff Creel said they will continue to have these type of training sessions throughout the year and continue receiving additional input from the community about the way officers handle different situations in the area.
