Search for new Greenville police chief suspended, officials say - iOnGreenville: Your Guide to Greenville South Carolina

Search for new Greenville police chief suspended due to COVID-19, officials say

Interim Chief Howie Thompson will continue to serve

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WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU AFTER THAT. MAYOR WHITE: PEOPLE WITH PASSION CORRECTLY VENTURED OUT TO EXPRESS THEIR OUTRAGE. PEOPLE SHOULD GO OUT AND EXPRESS THEIR OUTRAGE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO BUT PEACEFULLY. CITIES CROSS THAT STATE, THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN GREENVILLE. WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT GREENVILLE, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT PEOPLE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PASSION AND INTENSITY DID SHOW UP. WE ACTUALLY HAD THREE SEPARATE EVENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED. IMMEDIATELY, PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED. I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THE PASSION WE DISPLAYED, GREENVILLE WAS PEACEFUL. I WANT TO FIND THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. WE ARE PROUD OF THE PEOPLE WHO PLAYED A ROL IN THIS PRESENT THEIR VIEWS SO STRONGLY. I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE ORGANIZERS AND WE THANK THEM FOR PROMISING OF FRONT TO PUT TOGETHER A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION. SATURDAY MORNING, THE YOUNG RESIDENT OF GREENVILLE ORGANIZED A GROUP IN FRONT OF THE PEACE CENTER. THIS WAS ALL DONE VERY QUICKLY IN SUCH A JOINT TIMEFRAME. A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT THE PEACE CENTER ON SATURDAY MORNING. SATURDAY AFTERNOON, PUT TOGETHER QUICKLY. NOT EVERYONE — EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN. I DO WANT TO THANK MR. BRUCE WILSON AND DEREK QUARRELS FOR ORGANIZING THAT EVENT AND DOING SO AGAIN PEACEFULLY. THERE WERE SOME ISSUES ALONG THE WAY WITH THAT FIRST LARGE EVENT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE THERE. PEOPLE’S VOICES WERE ABSOLUTELY DEFINITELY HEARD. ON SUNDAY, THAT WAS BLACK LIVES MATTER OF GREENVILLE. AN ORGANIZATION HAS SOME VERY FINE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HOW TO ORGANIZE A LARGE CROWD LIKE THAT. THESE WERE ENORMOUS UNDERTAKINGS. YOU DON’T KNOW WHO WILL SHOW UP AND WHAT THEY WILL DO. ON SUNDAY, I THINK THERE WAS CLOSE TO A THOUSAND PEOPLE. THAT WAS ALSO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE EXPRESS THEMSELVES VERY PASSIONATELY AND LOUDLY. AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS PEACEFUL. THE ORGANIZERS PROMISED WE WOULD HAVE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS IN GREENVILLE AND DOWNTOWN AND WE DID. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR HOLDING THAT LINE AND MAINTAINING THAT COMMITMENT. SECOND, I WANT TO THANK THE PARTICIPANTS. WE HAD PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. IF ANYBODY THINKS THEY SAW A GLIMPSE OF THIS KIND OF PERSON OR THAT, YOU DID NOT, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIVERSE. THE PARTICIPANTS CONDUCTED THEMSELVES WELL AND WITH GREAT PASSION BUT SAFELY AND APPROPRIATELY. THEN OF COURSE, OUR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY, THE SHERIFF AND THE POLICE CHIEF. THEY HAD A LOT ON THEM. I WOULD BE — I’M SURE THEY WOULD BE THE FIRST TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY. THE IDEA WAS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR SAY AND TO MOVE ABOUT THE CITY. OVERALL, EVERYBODY IS GRATEFUL IT WAS AN EVENT. THINGS WERE GOOD IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA. I THINK THE MESSAGE WAS VER WELL DELIVERED. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF TODAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE IS TO REVIEW THIS WEEKEND’S ACTIVITIES. WE COULD LEARN FROM EVERY EXPERIENCE I. THEY LEARNED FROM SATURDAY’S EVENT, THEY — SUNDAY’S EVENT WENT SMOOTHER THAN SATURDAY’S EVENT. BUT WE LEARNED. WE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY. HERE TODAY, WE HAVE THE POLICE CHIEF, INTERIM CHIEF THOMPSON, SHERIFF LEWIS AND THEN AFTER THAT WE HAVE STACY MILLS, IN THE URBAN LEAGUE OF THE UPSTATE. WE HAVE THE NAACP. I WANT TO SAY THIS IS REALLY AN INFORMATION SESSION TO ASK QUESTIONS. THERE WERE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. I AM HERE TO TAKE NOTES AS WELL. I HAVE MILD QUESTIONS. THIS IS A PROCESS WE WILL CARRY ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE, WE ARE GRATEFUL COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER IN SUCH LARGE NUMBERS ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE, MADE THEIR VOICE HEARD AND DID PEACEFULLY. THAT IS SAYING A LOT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I WANT TO START OUT WITH SOME THANKS. THE THANKS GOES OUT TO THE MEDIA. YOU COVERED OUR EVENT. DURING MOST OF THE EVENT, I WAS OUT IN THE FIELD. I DID NOT GET TO SEE ALL OF DOWNTOWN AND WHAT WAS GOING ON. BEING OUT IN THE FIELD, YOU MISS A LOT OF THINGS. THE MEDIA, EACH OF YOU HAD VERY GOOD COVERAGE. I APPRECIATE THAT. THESE EVENTS AND PROTESTS ARE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE HEARD. WE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS UNDERSTAND THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. OUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PROTEST AND LET THEIR VOICE BE HEARD WHILE ALSO PROVIDING SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR ANY OTHER CITIZENS VISITING IN THIS INSTANCE DOWNTOWN AND TO PROTECT PROPERTY. THIS HAS BEEN A VICTORY FOR THE CITY OF GREENVILLE, WE HAD NO INJURIES. EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT, THEY WANTED TO BE HEARD, THEY WERE HEARD. WE PROTECTED THEIR RIGHT, THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I THINK THERE ARE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE EVENTS. TO ECHO THE MAYOR, I WANT TO GIVE SOME THANKS TO THE ORGANIZERS. THE DAYTIME EVENT WENT VERY WELL. THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT EVENTS. THAT WAS A STATIONARY EVENT. IT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PEACE CENTER. THEY STAYED RIGHT THERE IN THE GRAND COURTYARD. IT WAS A GOOD EVENT. THEY CAME OUT AT MAIN AND BROAD AND HELD THEIR SIGNS. A VERY, EVENT, NO ISSUES THERE WHATSOEVER. WE HAD VERY GOOD COMMUNICATION AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. THAT IS WHAT MAKES THESE EVENTS WORK. THE AFTERNOON EVENT, MR. QUARLES AND MR. WILSON, WE APPRECIATE THEM. WE WORK THROUGH A FEW ISSUES. THEY DID A GOOD JOB IN HELPING KEEP EVERYBODY CALM. EVERYBODY WENT HOME SAFE. IT ALSO ENDS UP BEING A GOOD EVENT. SUNDAY AFTERNOON STARTED OUT GREAT. THAT EVENT WENT JUST AS PLANNED. WE HAD GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH THEM. HE ALSO HAD SOMEONE THERE HELPING. PAUL GUY WAS THERE GET TO WORK WITH. HE HELPED KEEP EVERYBODY CALM. MOVING FROM FALLS PARK UP TO ONE CITY PLAZA. THEY HAD SOME SPEAKERS AND THEN THEY MOVED BACK DOWN TO FALLS PARK. AS THE DAY WENT, THE CROWD CHANGED AND THEN THE CROWD CAME IN, THAT WAS A DIFFERENT CROWD. OVER THE NIGHT, WE WATCHED THE CROWD CHANGE. TO HELP FACILITATE, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AND LET THEM BE HEARD. THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS IN THE CITY, YOU FILE AN INTENT TO PICK IT. IT LETS US KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, YOUR EVENT, WHERE YOU WANT TO HOLD IT, THE DATE, THE TIME, GIVE US A PHONE NUMBER OR AN EMAIL. BUT WE WILL DO IS CONTACT YOU, GO OVER YOUR EVENT, SEE WHAT YOUR NUMBERS ARE, IT WILL LET YOU KNOW THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT YOU NEED. WE REALLY NEED THAT FILE. THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE A GOOD EVENT. IN MOST OF THESE INSTANCES, THAT WAS DONE. IT REALLY HELPS US OUT. THAT IS WHAT MAKES AN EVENT GO GOOD, COMMUNICATION WITH US. WE WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE A GOOD EVENT. WE WILL GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO SUPPORT YOUR EVENT AND HELP YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. I ALSO WANT TO THANK SHERIFF OPRAH LEWIS. THE REGAL COUNTY SHERIFFS’S OFFICE WAS AWESOME. WE COULD NOT HAVE HELD THIS EVENT WITH THE AMOUNT OF MANPOWER NEEDED. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM AND LOOK FORWARD TO A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. THE SHERIFF AND I WERE TOGETHER FOR MOST OF THE TIME. EITHER OUT IN THE FIELD, CHECKING ON THINGS, COMBING THINGS DOWN, WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZERS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS GOING RIGHT. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HIM AND HIS TEAM. COULD NOT HAVE DONE WITHOUT THEM. THEY WERE TRULY AWESOME. THE PROBLEM IS ON WE DON’T HAVE COMMUNICATIONS. AT THE END OF THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT, THE LEADERS OF THE GROUP, WE NOTICED THAT THEY WERE BECOMING MORE UNRULY. THEY BECAME AN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY. THEY BLOCKED SEVERAL STREETS, THAT IS UNLAWFUL. BUT WE HELD. WE WERE HOPING THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY BREAK UP. THIS IS WAY PAST THE PERMITTED TIME. IT STARTED AT 6:00, WE LET THEM GO UNTIL 8:00 AND THE SHERIFF AND I — THEY TRY TO GET THE GROUP TO LEAVE AND DISPERSED. THE LEADERS THEN LEFT. THEY SAID WE CAN’T CONTROL THEM. MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN OUR GROUP. AND THEN THEY LEFT. THAT IS PART OF THE COMMUNICATION, HAVING THAT LIAISON. THE WAY LAST NIGHT ENDED, THAT IS NOT THE WAY WE WANTED IT TO END. WE WANTED IT TO END LIKE THE OTHER TWO PREVIOUS EVENTS. EVERYBODY GOES HOME PEACEFULLY. LAST NIGHT DID NOT END THAT WAY. WE HAD TO DEPLOY SOME TACTICS TO DISPERSE THE CROWD. THE TACTICS WERE NOT INDIVIDUAL IN NATURE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO INDIVIDUALS. THESE WERE TACTICS USED TO DISPERSE UNRULY CROWDS. CROWDS IN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY. LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, WE WILL LEARN FROM THIS. WE DID THEREFROM SATURDAY’S EVENT. WE WILL LOOK AT THESE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND LEARN FROM THEM. WE DO A COMPLETE AFTER ACTION REPORT, LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WE DID. WE FINE-TUNED THAT. WE WILL BE DOING THAT GOING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THE NEXT EVENTS WE HOLD ARE EVEN BETTER. OUR INTENT IS TO ALWAYS IMPROVE MOVING FORWARD. NEXT, WE WILL BRING IN SHERIFF HOBART LEWIS. SHERIFF LEWIS: GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM SHERIFF HOBART LEWIS. WE WILL BEGIN WITH HOW THE DAY STARTED ON SATURDAY. THE 11:00 ASSEMBLY WAS VERY PEACEFUL. ONE THING WE DID DO, THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO BE PASSED OUT. THE CHIEF AND I MET WITH EACH GROUP. THE LEADER OF THOSE GROUPS. WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY KNEW WHAT THE GUIDELINES WERE. WHATEVER EXPECTATIONS WERE OF THEM OF THE ASSEMBLY. I THINK THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH CREATING A GOOD FOUNDATION TO CREATE THAT DIALOGUE. AS WE MOVED AWAY FROM THE EVENT AND WATCHED IT UNFOLD, MOST WERE VERY PEACEFUL. I THINK WE MET WITH EACH WELL-KNOWN ACTIVIST DOWNTOWN. SEVERAL WERE MENTIONED. AS THINGS UNFOLDED, WE WOULD GO FIND THEM AND SAY IF YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE, IT IS TIME TO START LEAVING. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I THINK WE RAN INTO WAS OUTSIDE PEOPLE COMING INTO THESE PROTESTS AND GROUPS THAT DID NOT BEGIN WITH THEM. THOUGH SEEM TO BE THE AGITATORS AS THE NIGHT WENT ON. WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU A THOMPSON. — WE TALKED TO BRUCE WILSON, PAUL GUY ON SUNDAY. ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO KNEW WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH. WE TRY TO BE VERY PATIENT BECAUSE MOST DID NOT FOLLOW THE RULES AT THE END OF THE DAY. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL GROUP THAT WOULD LEAVE WHEN THEIR TIME WAS UP BUT WE HAD 30 OR 40 THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO STAY. THEN THEY MOVED OUT INTO THE COUNTY. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH CHIEF THOMPSON AND HAVE A CONTINGENT READY FROM THE COUNTY. I THINK WE DID A GREAT JOB OF WORKING TOGETHER. WE HAD AN EVENT IN A CLOSE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE THE CITY. HAVING THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE, READY TO DEPLOY THEM, THEY WERE ABLE TO KEEP ANY DAMAGE, INJURIES FROM HAPPENING. SATURDAY WENT REALLY WELL. SUNDAY, WE GOT A GAME PLAN TOGETHER. WE WERE TRYING TO WATCH THOSE THINGS TOGETHER. THE ORGANIZERS HAD THE BEST OF INTENTIONS. THEY WERE MEANT TO GO BACK TO FALLS PARK. THAT LOOKED LIKE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN BUT THEY CONTINUED TO MOVE AROUND THE CITY. THE MAYOR AND THE STAFF WERE VERY PATIENT. WE BEGAN TO MOVE RESOURCES AROUND THE CITY TO KEEP THEM SAFE. FROM A MOBILE STANDPOINT, WE DID A GOOD JOB OF PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES OUT AND KEEPING THEM VERY SAFE. THEY WERE VERY COMPLIANT. AS THE NIGHT WORE ON, WE ASKED OF THEM AND SAID YOU’RE SEVERAL HOURS PAST YOUR TIME. WE HAVE MAIN STREET SHUT DOWN, BUSINESSES SHUT DOWN. I THINK MOST WERE COMPLIANT, THE ORIGINAL GROUP. WE HAD TO SOMEHOW INTEGRATE BILL YOUNG GROUP IN THEIR 30’S. THEY STAYED AROUND. OTHER ACTIVISTS TRY TO TALK TO THEM AND TELL THEM IT’S TIME TO GO. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. BEING THERE TO WATCH IT, VERY PROUD OF THE MEN AND WOMEN AT THE GREENVILLE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW IMPRESSED I WAS TO WATCH THE GREENVILLE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT BIKE PATROL UNIT. WE CAME INTO BACK THEM UP, THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB. KUDOS TO THE CHIEF FOR ORCHESTRATING THAT. HE DEFUSED A LOT OF SITUATIONS UNTIL THAT FINAL HOUR WHERE THEY SAT DOWN AND SAID THEY WERE NOT MOVING. AGAIN, WE HAD TO GET THEM BACKED INTO THEIR VIDEOS AND CLEAR THE ROADWAY. NOBODY WAS INJURED. I THINK A VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FORCE WAS USED. WHEN YOUR PRESENT, THAT IS THE FIRST SIGN OF WORSE. ETHIC IT WAS ADVANTAGEOUS TO US TO HAVE A VERY LARGE GROUP READY. SHE’S, CONGRATULATIONS. — CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS. IT WAS AN HONOR TO WALK WITH THE MEMBERS OF THIS PROTEST. IT IS A TERRIBLE TIME IN OUR COUNTRY. I THINK IT IS UP TO US TO MOVE FORWARD AND GENERATE SOME DIALOGUE IN OUR CORNER OF THE WORLD. WE CAN DO THAT TOGETHER. WE JUST HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE. HE WON’T BE AN ACTING CHIEF BUT I HOPE HE GETS THAT FULL-TIME JOB. HE DESERVES IT. WE DO WANT TO SIT DOWN AND MOVE FORWARD AND CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES SO WE CAN TALK TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND HAVE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION. LET’S KEEP THESE PROTESTS PEACEFUL. AGAIN, A LOT OF THESE OUTSIDE INFLUENCES ARE REALLY WHAT AGITATED THIS CROWD. I THINK OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DID A GREAT JOB OF DIFFUSING THAT SITUATION AND BEING VERY PATIENT. AGAIN, JUST KIND OF WAITING IT OUT. WE WERE ABLE TO DISPERSE THE CROWD DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE ARE VERY PROUD TO TAKE A SMALL PART IN KEEPING THOSE BUSINESSES SAFE. LET’S NOT START — STOP HERE, LET’S HE MOVING FORWARD. I THINK WE CAN GO A LONG WAY. THE CHIEF AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE WILL WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO BEGIN THAT. THANK YOU TO THE MEDIA. EVERYTHING WE ASKED YOU GUYS TO DO SATURDAY NIGHT TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE, WE DID. WITHOUT HESITATION. WE APPRECIATE YOU GETTING INFORMATION OUT OF THE PUBLIC. THAT IS ABOUT ALL I HAVE ON THAT ISSUE. THEY ARE WHITE, WE WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. — MAYOR WHITE, WE WILL TURN IT MAYOR WHITE: YOU JUST HEARD IT FROM WHERE YOU NEED TO HEAR IT, THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNICATION GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENE. FOR THE EVENT, DURING THE EVENTS AND THEN WE GOT AN EARFUL ABOUT THINGS PEOPLE DIDN’T LIKE AND WE WILL LISTEN TO THAT JUST AS THEY LISTENED TO THE CONVERSATION BEFORE THE EVENTS. WE KEPT THE COMMUNICATION GOING. WE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS THE CASE. THAT IS GOING TO BE OUR ATTITUDE, TO LEARN FROM THIS AND GO FORWARD. PART OF GOING FORWARD IS THE OTHER PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK. YOU CAN’T STOP TODAY. PEOPLE SPOKE LOUDLY ABOUT THINGS. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE EVENTS BUT IT IS ABOUT WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. HAVE WE DO THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT. I THINK WE HAVE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP FROM OUR POLICE CHIEF AND SHERIFF. I THINK THEY ARE VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION. IT IS A SERIOUS CONVERSATION, A NATIONWIDE CONVERSATION. THE TRUTH IS THAT THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE SHERIFF FOUND THEMSELVES LEAVING THE MARCH ON SUNDAY. IT IS A SERIOUS TIME AND THEY TAKE THAT ROLE VERY SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE. NOT JUST THIS EVENT BUT WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, WHATEVER ATTITUDE SHOULD BE, HOW WE COULD BE A BETTER COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, WE HAVE REVEREND STACY MILLS, HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY REVEREND JAN FLEMING. WE DO HAVE SOME IDEAS ON HOW WE MIGHT CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION, THIS VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITE. ALSO, TO CONGRATULATE AND ECHO OUR SENTIMENTS ABOUT THE CONDUCT OF OUR POLICE FORCE, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THANK YOU. SHERIFF LEWIS AND SHERIFF THOMPSON, THINK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE. I ATTENDED BOTH EVENTS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. MY THOUGHTS CENTER AROUND GREENVILLE, IT WAS A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION, CELEBRATION OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY WE HAVE HERE. TO CALL UPON ALL OF US FROM A LEADERSHIP STANDPOINT, TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THAT IS A SPIRIT OF UPLIFT AND GOING TO HIGHER GROUND RATHER THAN GOING BACKWARDS. WE ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A LOT HAS LED TO WHERE WE ARE. BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE IS A GREAT TEMPTATION AMONG SOM TO CALL FOR A OF NORMAL. BUT NORMAL FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR MEN IS NOT A GOOD PLACE. WE HAVE A CULTURE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE THAT IS BROKEN AND TOXIC. WE NEED TO GO TO HIGHER GROUND, BEYOND NORMAL, FAR BEYOND NORMAL. AS THE LEADER OF ONE OF OUR HISTORIC BLACK CHURCHES IN DOWN TOWN GREENVILLE, I HOLD MYSELF TO A STANDARD SET FOR MY CONGREGATION. THEY WOULD RATHER SEE A SERMON THEN HEAR A SERMON. WORDS CANNOT FIX THIS, ONLY ACTION. THAT ACTION HAS TO BE CONCEIVED AND IMPLEMENT IT TOGETHER AND AFFIRMED UNIVERSALLY. MANY OF US IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN OFFERING AND EVEN PLEADING FIRST THIS EFFECT — FOR SPECIFIC STEPS TO LEE AND NATIONALLY THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE TRAUMA OF BEING SECOND-CLASS CANNOT DESIGN WORKABLE NEXT STEPS IN A CULTURAL VACUUM. ACTION MUST COME IMMEDIATELY IN THE FORM OF PUBLIC SAFETY. POLICY REVIEW AND CHANGE DONE IN CONCERT WITH THE COMMUNITY. PUBLIC SAFETY PRACTICES MUST BE REVIEWED AND CHANGE TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND THERE MUST BE AN UNPRECEDENTED COMMITMENT TO STANDARDS DRIVEN TRAINING THAT OCCURS OFTEN. NOT SELDOM OR NEVER WE CAN DO THIS. WE MUST GIVE SPECIAL EAR TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR THOSE ORGANIZING THE EVENTS OVER THE WEEKEND. DID SO WITHIN THE CONFINES OF PRESCRIBED SOCIAL ORDER. THAT MUST BE RESPECTED AND CELEBRATED. MUST BE BUILT UPON. THE INJUSTICES WAY WAY MOST HEAVILY ON THEIR SHOULDERS. THEY ARE THE NEXT GENERATION. THEY ALSO HAVE BEN FORMED THEIR IDEAS FROM WHAT THEY’VE SEEN HISTORICALLY AND THE STRUGGLES OF THEIR PARENTS. THEY MUST BE OWNERS OF THE DISCUSSION THE ACTION STEPS IN THE OUTCOMES ARE COMMUNITY DESIRES. THERE IS NO HOPE OF SOLUTION IF VOICES ARE EXCLUDED. AND KEEP IN MIND THOSE VOICES COME IN DIFFERENT VOLUMES AND LANGUAGE, BUT THEY DO NOT DIFFER IN VALUE. THE ONLY WORDS TO SPEAK NOW MUST BE TO PUT IN PLACE SPECIFIC ACTION THAT WILL TAKE US TO HIGHER GROUND. TODAY WE CAN DO BETTER TODAY. WE MUST DO BETTER SO THAT WE WILL BE THE GREENVILLE EVERY ONE OF OUR CITIZENS. I IT TO BE YOU MR. MAYOR. I WANT TO INTRODUCE REVEREND FLEMING PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP AT THIS. GOOD EVENING. I’M JIM FLEMING THE PRESIDENT OF THE N-DOUBLE-A-CP. AND KUDOS TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING THAT’S THEM SAID THUS FAR. BUT NO ONE SAID WHAT THE MARCH WAS ABOUT YOU TOLD ME HOW NICE THE MARCH WAS. COOPERATIVE THE PEOPLE WERE BUT WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE? I WAS THERE MARCH. THERE WAS A MARCH BECAUSE THERE WAS RACISM. AT PLAY AND YOUNG FOLK WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS THE RACISM. THE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WE’VE BEEN DEALING WITH IN THIS COUNTRY OVER FOUR HUNDRED AND SOME YEARS. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT REFORM FROM THE NATIONAL ALL THE WAY DOWN. WHAT IS THE POLICIES OF THE POLICE? HOW DID THE POLICE ENGAGE AND TALK TO YOUNG BLACK FOLK? HOW DO THEY ACT? WHAT KIND OF RESPECT DO THEY SHOW THEM WHEN THEY OPEN OPEN THE DOORS AND STOP AND TALK TO THEM? HOW DO YOU JOIN DRESS THEM? AS YOU’RE SITTING THERE IN THE AUDIENCE, THERE ARE TWO MESSAGES THAT GOES OUT FROM THE BLACK PARENT AND FROM THE WHITE PARENT PARENT AS IT DEALS WITH POLICING. I HAVE TO ALWAYS REMIND MINE. YES. NO, SIR. YES, MA’AM. NO, MA’AM. I’M SORRY STAY IN YOUR PLACE. THAT’S THE MESSAGE THAT MOST BLACK PARENTS HAVE TO GIVE TO THEIR BLACK CHILDREN. BUT WHITE PARENTS DON’T EVEN STOP TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND DON’T GIVE THAT MESSAGE. THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR ALL OF US ARE CITIZENS. ALL OF US HUMAN AND ALL OF US OUGHT TO BE TREATED THE SAME. THE POLICIES ARE NOT BE ANY DIFFERENT FOR WHITES THAN IT IS FOR BLACKS. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE TO SAY OPENLY TO THE MAYOR MAYOR WHEN I CALLED THE MAYOR AND SAID THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONVERSATIONS THE BETTER THIS COMMUNITY FIRST THING. HE SAID I AGREE WE NEED TO DO THAT AND I WANT TO SAY OPENLY THANK YOU. FOR BEING OPEN TO START A DIALOGUE AND TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT MEANS THAT SAYS THE ME THEN IF WE START AT THE TOP WE CAN MAKE CHANGE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. BEST COUPLE OF THINGS RACISM IS NOT NEW TO THIS COMMUNITY. NOTHING NEW TO US. I KNEW IT ALL BUT WE INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TOGETHER. WITH THATS TO SIT DOWN TO PLAN TO TALK TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS. SYSTEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM HAS BEEN HERE OVER FOUR HUNDRED AND SOME YEARS. AND NOT TALKING ABOUT IT WILL NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY. PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN PREVENT THOSE PROBLEMS IS THAT WE SAT DOWN AND DIALOGUE TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ARE PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAME TOGETHER PEACEFULLY IN MARCH AND SAID WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY, BUT WE’RE PLAYING IN THE FORUM ON RACISM. THERE’LL BE A PHONE CONVERSATION ON JUNE THE 2ND FROM 2:00 TO 3:30 AND ON THURSDAY FROM 4 FROM 6 TO 7:30. PLANNING A STRATEGY TO COME TOGETHER WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY NOT JUST BLACK FOLK CAUSING RACISM BLACK FOLK IS NOT THE PROBLEM. WE NEED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. IN THIS RACISM RACIAL PROBLEM THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BLACK FOLK ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS WE GET WHITE MEN TO COME TO THE TABLE AND SIT DOWN AND TALK. WITH A PEACEFUL HEART WITH A LOVING HEART AND AN OPEN MIND. WE CAN CHANGE AND PREVENT PROBLEMS. WE’RE LOOKING AT IN NEW YORK AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE CAN PREVENT THAT IN GRAMMAR. I’LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU I DON’T WANT TO SEE IT ANYWHERE INFO. OTHERS TRIED TO INCITE RIOTS IN THE PAST THE MAN OTHERS THE CHIEF POLICE PASTY KNOW I’M THERE TO HELP YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM NOT CREATE ONE. SO NOW WE INVITING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. EVERY ETHNIC GROUP EVERY CULTURE WE WANT YOU TO PART OF THIS DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION. I CAN SAY OPENLY BECAUSE THEY SHARED WITH ME. GREENVILLE TECH PRESIDENT THINKS IT’S A GREAT IDEA PRESIDENT FURMAN UNIVERSITY THINKS IT’S A GREAT IDEA. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THANKS IS A GREAT IDEA. THEIR GROUPS AND PEOPLE IN GREENVILLE THE SAYING THAT YES, IT’S TIME. IT’S LONG OVERDUE. LET’S COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AS PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP. I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN IN WITH US AND WE CAN WORK OUT A PLAN THE BETTER OUR COMMUNITY TO BETTER OUR PEOPLE AND TO BETTER HERSELF. GOD BLESS YOU. I NEED TO INTRODUCE BRING FORTH MISS. LILLIAN FLEMING. GOOD AFTERNOON. ALL RIGHT, MAN WHITE. I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SHARE AND I THANK BOTH. CHIEF HOWARD THOMPSON AND CHER LOIS WE THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU ROBERT MILLS FROM I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND ROOM FLEMING FROM THE NAACP. I’M A MEMBER OF GREENVILLE CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND I THINK KNOCKS HE HAD JUST WRITE MY NAME DOWN. BUT ANYWAY, I’M HERE BECAUSE I’M VERY NOT ONLY A MEMBER OF THE THE OF THE GREENVILLE CITY COUNCIL. I’M A PROUD MEMBER. BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR ENTIRE COUNCIL MEMBERS. SUPPORT WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE DID ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY? THE STAF OUR POLICE OFFICERS I SHARE WHEN THEY CAME TO PROTECT THEM AND TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. I PROBABLY AM UNIQUE BECAUSE EVERYONE DIDN’T DO THAT MOST OF THEM. I THOUGHT THAT WHEN PEOPLE CAME TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. THEY WERE COMING TO CREATE A PROBLEM AND TO LOOT AND TO DO SOME THINGS AND POSSIBLY THERE WERE SOME IN OTHER PLACES. BUT FOR THEM TO HAVE A POSITIVE FOR OUR FOR OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AND FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND SHERIFF’S TO TAKE THE OTHER APPROACH LOOK AT FIRST AND SEE THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. THAT’S THE WAY WE TEACH WHEN WE ENGAGE AND SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING TO HELP TO TEACH THE ENGAGE AS A MOTHER OF SONS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. ME TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD. AND SO THEREFORE AND I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN MALES WHO JUST GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM HIGH SCHOOL? AND OFTENTIMES IN DIALOGUE, YOU’VE GOT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND IT’S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO TAKE THOSE COLLEGE DIPLOMAS AND GET THOSE FOOT THOSE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS. THEY HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE AND EXPLAIN TO THEM. WHY YES, IT’S STILL IMPORTANT TO GO TO COLLEGE. AND SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO STANDING IN THAT PARTICULAR ROLE. IT’S DIFFICULT BUT TO SEE THE YOUNG PEOPLE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY TAKE CHARGE. PLAN PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY HAD A RIGHT TO SAY AND EXPRESS HOW FRUSTRATED THEY FEEL AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY WHO JOINED IN WITH THEM BECAUSE THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. WHO JOINED IN WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE SAYING EXACTLY THE SAME THING? WE KNOW WE WILL GET BETTER. AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN. AND CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE NOT ONLY THE CITY OF GREENVILLE. BUT THERE ARE FIVE OTHER CITIES. IN THE COUNTY OF GREENVILLE AS WELL AS THE COUNTY OF GREENVILLE. WE NEED TO ALL WORK TOGETHER EVERY CITY. AN END AND THE COUNTER WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A SAFE PLACE. FOR ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ELDERLY PEOPLE MIDDLE-AGED PEOPLE FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE FIELD NEEDED AND TO FEEL WANTED AND TO FEEL LOVE THERE WILL BE MORE CONVERSATIONS. WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JUST GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS VERY FIRST ONE. THANK YOU. THIS MICROPHONE THIS QUESTION IS FOR MAYOR WHITE MADELEINE HACKETT WITH WYFF. THESE PROTESTS FALL AMID THE BACKDROP OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AS WE ALL ARE VERY AWARE. ARE THERE CONCERNS THAT THEY COULD FUEL THE SPREAD OF COVID AND WHAT IS THE CITY DOING? AND WHAT CAN THE CITY DO? THAT GETS BACK AGAIN TO THE CONVERSATION. YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT TO ALL THE ORGANIZERS AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT OF LOGISTICS TO DISCUSS IN TERMS OF KEEPING IT PEACEFUL AND ALL BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT EVERY ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS BROUGHT UP THE TOPIC BEFORE WE COULD BRING IT UP. I HOW WE GOING TO HANDLE THIS WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SUCH AND SO IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IN ONE SENSE. BUT WHEN WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAN OUT SOME OF THE EVENTS SPECIALL THE PEACE CENTER A LOT OF IT WAS GIVEN TO THAT. BUT IT IS A GOOD CONCERN. I THINK ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE. OUT MARCHING AND SUCH SO NO, DENYING THAT BUT THERE WERE THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTENTION TO IT AND I WOULD JUST SAY CONSTANT REMINDERS TO THE CROWD TOO. TO BE MINDFUL OF IS IT ONE QUESTION AT A TIME RULE? I’LL JUST KNOCK THEM OUT OCCASION. YEAH, THIS IS EITHER FOR SHERIFF LEWIS OR CHIEF THOMPSON. SO WHAT WE EXPERIENCED YESTERDAY SEEMS TO MATCH WHAT WE’VE SEEN HAPPENING NATIONWIDE WITH THESE DAYTIME PROTESTS BEING MORE RELATIVELY PEACEFUL AND THEN ONCE NIGHT TIME COMES THEY TEND TO ESCALATE BECOME MORE COMBATIVE. AND AGAIN, THAT’S WHAT WE SAW WAS WHAT HAPPENS SUNDAY. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION HERE IS WHAT’S NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR SPORTS IN CROWDS AND WHAT CAN PEOPLE WHO ATTEND THESE PROTESTS KNOW ABOUT WHAT BEHAVIOR IS APPROPRIATE? WHAT’S CROSSING THE LINE AND WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL TAKE ACTION? RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT’S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK YOU’RE RIGHT ON THE MONEY DURING THE DAYLIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT’S JUST LIKE CRIME A LOT OF CRIME GOES UP AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW THE USUAL THE COVER OF DARKNESS TO DO BAD THINGS SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION TO IF I MAY AND TOUCH ON THAT. SO ONE THING WE DID IS NORMALLY WE DON’T WE DON’T CLOSE STREETS A PROTEST IS A SINGLE LINE WALK UP A CITY SIDEWALK OR IN A CITY AREA, YOU KNOW NOT NOT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY. WE DON’T CONTROL PUBLIC BUT WHAT WE DID IS TO HELP GIVE MORE SPACE WE DECIDED TO WORK WITH THE ORGANIZERS AND CLOSE THE ROAD AND LET THEM MARCH ON THE ROADWAY, WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM MORE SPACE TO DO SOME SOCIAL DISTANCING NOT SAYING IT. THAT’S WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO THAT WAS ONE OF OUR GOALS IN WORKING WITH THEM WAS TO CLOSE THE STREETS. WE DISCUSSED IT BEFORE HAND AND WORK WITH THEM AND TRIED TO CLOSE THE STREETS AND GIVE THEM PLENTY OF ROOM TO SPREAD OUT AS THEY MARCHED UP MAIN STREET JUST TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. THAT WAS ONE WAY. WE THOUGHT WE COULD HELP WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT COVID WAS A CONCERN AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING TO BE THERE WAS A CONCERN WE KNEW THAT GOING INTO IT BACK TO YOUR QUESTION FOR ME, SO WE HAVE INTENSE TO DO PERMIT AND AND WORKING WITH THE TOM’S OR SET UP. WE WENT OUT OF OUR WAY AND BENT OVER BACKWARDS LAST NIGHT AND AND ALLOWED THEM TO AND PROTECTED THEM. AND I HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ARE NOT MANY. I HEARD A FEW ACTUALLY WE’VE BEEN GETTING OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE REMARKS FROM THE FROM CITIZENS IN THE CITY COMING INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW WELL WE DID AND THEY APPRECIATE IT. WE’VE RECEIVED A FEW COMPLAINTS. I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THERE AT A CERTAIN TIME MAYBE FIVE OR SIX O’CLOCK AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM SO THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHY WE CHANGED TALKING ABOUT THE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CHANGED OUR TACTICS LATER WILL THE CROWD CHANGED AND EVERYTHING CHANGED THE LEADERSHIP LEFT THE ONES THAT WERE LEFT THERE AT NIGHT THAT THEY WERE NOT THERE TO BE HEARD THEY WERE THERE TO DO DAMAGE. WE HAD A STORE GET LOOTED UP ON CHURCH AND UNIVERSITY A LITTLE GAS STATION CROWD WENT IN AND THEIR INTENT THERE WAS WAS TO GRAB A BUNCH OF ITEMS AND LEAVE WE HAD OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES RIGHT THERE TO PREVENT THAT THEY SHUT DOWN THREE STREETS WHERE THEY WENT OUT AND SAID IN THE STREETS WHAT WAS OUR ACTION? HELD TRAFFIC AND LET THEM SIT THERE THAT THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW. IT IS IS UNLAWFUL. IT’S UNSAFE. IMAGINE A CAR COMING THROUGH THERE. THEY COME DOWN AND SAID IT’S AT NIGHT. THE CAR DOESN’T SEE HIM WE END UP WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HURT. THAT IS WE DEFINITELY DON’T WANT THAT. BUT WHAT DID WE DO? WE BLOCK THE STREETS AND STILL GAVE THEM TIME. AND REPEATEDLY AND MET WITH THEM BOTH THE SHERIFF AND I PERSONALLY ASKING THEM. TO DISPERSE WE FINALLY CAME TO TO A POINT ON MAIN STREET, AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN’T LEAVING EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. AND SO THE CROWD THEN IS THERE NOT A LAWFUL ASSEMBLY AND AND THEY ARE BLOCKING STREETS AND DOING UNLAWFUL THINGS AND WE HAVE TO DISPERSE THEM. ONE FINAL QUESTION THIS IS FOR REVEREND STACY. YOU MENTIONED YOU KNOW YOUR NEED FOR ACTION DRIVEN. THAT WAS LIKE THE WORD THAT KEPT COMING UP WAS ACTION DRIVEN. FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WROTE DOWN THAT YOU MENTIONED WERE RENEWAL OF PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES. POLICY REVIEWS AND STANDARD DRIVEN TRAINING SO THOSE WERE JUST THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT BUT WE’RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION HERE. WHAT ARE REALLY THE NEXT STEPS THAT NEED TO BE? TAKEN AND HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL? I’LL LEAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH SOME TANGIBLE AGAIN ACTION DRIVEN SOLUTION. AS PROBLEM, SO I’LL ATTEMPT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THE REVERSE I AM EXTREMELY CONFIDENT THAT BY US BEING IN THE ROOM TODAY TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF DISCUSSION THAT THIS IS A PLACE OF BEGINNINGS FOR US. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD IN OUTLINING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCESSES SUCH AS COMMUNITY ADVISORY OR COMMUNITY REVIEW BOARDS. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AN ADVISORY BOARD IN A REVIEW BOARD. WOULD ALLOW SOME ACTION AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOME ACCESS TO DATA AS IT REFLECTS TO THE CRIMES THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW THOSE ARE METED OUT. I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A WONDERFUL START FOR US, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE X IN AND I THINK THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON US AS LEADERS TO HAND THEM A STRONG AND ROBUST AND RESOLUTE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY LEADERSHIP ROLES AND WE CAN THAT BY MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSCORE THE ISSUES THAT ARE AT HAND RIGHT NOW AND THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD JUST ONLY EXACERBATES WHERE WE ARE IN BEING DIVIDED IN A COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THE SPIRIT OF GREENVILLE AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT AGAIN ON SATURDAY MORNING AT 11 A.M. AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT FOUR PM WAS REFLECTED BY THE LEVEL OF DIVERSITY THAT CAME OUT INTO THE STREETS TO SAY NOT ONLY IS THIS YOU PORT IT BECAUSE IT’S A NATIONAL ISSUE, BUT WE ALL EMBRACE THIS IN THE COMMUNITY OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, SO I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE ON A BEGINNING. WE HAVE A GREAT LEADERSHIP IN OUR CITY COUNCIL AS HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEN AND WOMEN WERE PRESENT AND THEY ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MAYOR WAS THERE LED WITH COMMENTS HIS FINAL COMMENT OF THE DAY WAS TO IDENTIFY YOUNG BLACK MEN IN THE CROWD AND THEM THAT THIS IS OUR CITY AND I THINK THAT IS THE LANGUAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE LIFTED THAT MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE REPEATED AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME LEGS PUT TO THAT KIND OF STATEMENT. AND SO WHEN I SAY THAT ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN THAT’S THE KIND OF ACTION WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU. CHIEF I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS. THE FIRST I WAS UP TILL THE WEEKEND I NOTICED. YOU ARE YOUR OFFICERS? FOR THE BIKES AND THE CLOSE CONTACT TO THINGS I NOTICE. FIRST A STOIC AND NOT EMOTION A LOT OF THE COMMENTS. OR REALLY JUST ABOUT POLICE PRACTICES OF PERSONAL IS ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I WANTED TO ASK YOU. WHAT’S THIS? FIRST OF ALL, HOW DID YOU PREPARE? FOR THAT PSYCHOLOGICALLY APPS AND THEN ANOTHER CERN THAT I THINK ABOUT IS HOW CLOSE THEY WERE. SIX INCHES FROM THEIR FACE ON TIMES SCREAMING IS ANYTHING YOU’RE GOING TO DO TOO. TEST THEM ALL. COVID WAS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION? IN PROTECTING THEM FROM POTENTIAL THRE SO YOUR SECOND ONE FIRST, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A WE HAVE MANY TEST SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY NOW AND PSYCHED THAT WE CAN GET THEM TESTED THAT IS UP THAT’S LEFT UP TO THEM IF THEY FEEL LIKE THAT. YOU’RE RIGHT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF SPACE. IN FACT, I WOULD AND I THINK SOME OF YOUR PICTURES AND THE VIDEO THAT YOU SEE THAT THE MEDIA TOOK YOU’LL SEE THAT IT’S ACTUALLY CLOSER DISTANCE THAN SIX INCHES THAT PEOPLE WERE COMING TO THE OFFICE. THEY WERE RIGHT NOSE-TO-NOSE WITH THEM. AND SO THAT DOES HAPPEN. BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY’RE TRAINED FOR. SO BACK TO YOUR FIRST PART. YES, THAT’S PART OF THE BITE OF THE TRAINING THE FRONTLINE TRAINING IS THAT THEY REALIZE THAT THAT’S WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING REMARKS AND THEY’RE GOING TO BE BAD REMARKS. AND THEY’RE GOING TO BE IN THEIR FACE AND AND ALL I WISH IT WASN’T THAT WAY. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT. I DON’T THINK ANYONE HERE WOULD ARGUE AND I DON’T THINK ANY OFFICER OR ANY DEPUTY. WE I THINK THE CROWDS THERE DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH IN AGREEMENT WE ALL ARE THAT THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IS AWFUL AND TERRIBLE AND WAS UNNECESSARY AND SHOULDN’T HAPPEN. ONE THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION IS NO OFFICER AND GREENVILLE OR ANY GREENVILLE COUNTY DEPUTY KILLED GEORGE FLOYD. BUT SOME OF THE COMMENTS IN THE WAY THE OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES WERE TREATED THE OTHER NIGHT. YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WERE THE ONES. GUILTY OF PROM SO I JUST I JUST THINK THAT’S IMPORTANT TO MENTION BECAUSE THOSE OFFICERS WERE THERE TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE THERE TO PROTEST AND THEY DID IT. THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB MEN AND WOMEN OF THE GREENVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I’M SO PROUD OF THEM. I COULDN’T BE PROUDER. THEY SHOWED GREAT RESTRAINT. THEY WERE THEY WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND SAME WITH THE DEPUTIES AND WE HAD GREAT POINTS OF INTERACTION. I KNOW MANY OF Y’ALL CAUGHT THAT ON ON CAMERA AND PICTURES OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE OFFICERS AND THE CROWDS AND INTO REVEREND MILLS POINT WHA HE SAID, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT’S OURS NOW, IT ACTUALLY STARTED AT THESE EVENTS THE OFFICERS, YOU KNOW COMMUNICATING WITH THEM HOLDING SIGNS GETTING PICTURES MADE WITH THEM TALKING ABOUT JUST WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. NOW. WE HAD A LOT OF VERY GOOD DIALOGUE THE SHERIFF AND I TALKED TO I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE WE TALKED TO OUT THERE AND HAD VERY GOOD DIALOGUE WITH YOU KNOW WITH THEM AND SO IT REALLY STARTED OUT THERE WHATEVER MILLS MAKE GREAT POINTS AND AND IT STARTED OUT THERE. AND SO WE’RE NOW WE’RE CONTINUING IN BUT I DO WANT TO BRAG ON THE POLICE OFFICERS. I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THEM TWO LONG DAYS, AND THEY DID GREAT JOB AND JUST VERY VERY PROUD OF THEM. DOING A FOLLOW-UP OF THAT. SO YOU’RE SAYING THAT TESTING FOR YOUR OFFICERS IS AND THEY CAN JUST CHOOSE TO DO OR THERE THAT’S CORRECT? THERE’S NO YOU’RE NOT GOING TO TEST ALL YOUR OFFERS AND STANDS ARE OUT HERE IN THIS. SITUATION YES, SO IT IS IT IS OFFERED TO HIM AND THEY CAN THEY CAN GO GET TESTED BUT NOTHING I AM MAKING THEM DO. IS THERE ANY CONCERN THAT IF YOU DON’T TEST THEM AND THEY? NOT GET TESTED THAT THEY CAN SPREAD IT IN YOUR APARTMENT. NO, WE’VE HAD OUR AGENCY WE HAVE SLIGHTLY OVER 200 OFFICERS AND WE HAVE HAD ZERO OFFICERS SICK WITH COVID. WE’VE IMPLEMENTED A LOT OF THINGS IN THE DEPARTMENT SANITIZING EVERYDAY SANITIZING EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE HAND GEL EVERYWHERE. WE’VE ISSUED THEM HAND GEL FACE MASK THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT’S RIGHT. NOW WE HAVE HAD NO, WE’VE NOT SEEN ANY OF THAT. BUT THEY WEREN’T PROTEST WITH THOUSANDS, CORRE YOU THINK THAT’S SUFFICIENT? WELL, I CAN’T MAKE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT SOMETHING I’M GOING TO MAKE THEM DO THAT’S THAT’S A PERSONAL CHOICE IF THEY CHOOSE TO GO GET TESTED. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY YOU KNOW, THAT IS PROVIDED TO THEM. ALSO I WANT TO ASK A QUICK I MIGHT GO TO THE THIRD ONE. I’D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION. MAYBE THE LAST ONE IN. GET ALL THREE OF Y’ALL. MAYBE SPEAK ABOUT IT IF YOU WANT TO BUT FIRST. AT WHAT POINT? YOU’RE SAYING THAT THERE WERE OUTSIDE PEOPLE WHO? DO YOU HAVE ANY CHARACTERIZATION? WHO THOSE PEOPLE WERE BEYOND THAT THEY WERE? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE’S TALK ABOUT NO. ORGANIZED EFFORT I’LL BRING PEOPLE IN AT SOME OF THESE DO YOU FEEL LIKE THESE WERE JUST PEOPLE ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET ORGANIZED EFFORT OH, NO. WELL, WE WERE FOLLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA. WE PROBABLY SAW SOME OF THE SAME STUFF WE DID THERE WAS TALK ABOUT VAN LOADS OF PEOPLE COMING IN FROM FROM OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW OF GREENVILLE. THAT’S NOT WHAT WE EXPERIENCED. THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ARRESTED AND WE ARE GOING TO MY PI. OH LIEUTENANT PARAMOUR IS WORKING ON A PACKET FOR YOU THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE TOMORROW THE MEDIA WILL IT WILL LIST ALL THE ARREST AND THE CHARGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND YOU’LL SEE WHERE THEY’RE FROM BUT MOST OF THEM WERE FROM CLOSE BY PICKENS EASILY SEVERAL GREENVILLE ONE FROM SOMEWHERE IN GEORGIA, BUT YOU’LL SEE YOU’LL SEE THAT. BUT NO WE HAD NO. DON’T HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THERE WAS PEOPLE JUST JUST BROUGHT IN HERE. FROM WAY OUTSIDE NOT SURE IF THIS IS JUST YOU HAVE THE SHERIFF HANDLE SOME OF THIS LOAD TO THE DECISION. THE DECISION TO DEPLOY THE RI POLICE TO FIRE TEAR GAS FLASH CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT? POINT WE DECIDE TO DO THAT IS IT THAT WHEN THE LEADER SAID WE CAN’T GOLDEN AND WE HAVE TO GO. IS THAT WHAT PEOPLE? EXPECTING THESE I GUESS SO. THERE WAS NO LEADER. THERE WAS NO AS I SAID BEFORE THE LEADERS HAD LEFT WE’RE DEALING WITH A CROWD THAT WOULD NOT YOU COULD NOT REASON WITH YOU COULDN’T JUSTIFY. THEY WERE BECOMING MORE AND MORE UNRULY THEY HAD AN AWFULLY BLOCK THE STREETS. THEY HAD ALREADY HIT ONE STORE AND YOU COULD SENSE WHERE THIS WAS GOING. THEY REFUSED MULTIPLE TIMES TO LEAVE AND DISPERSED. LAWFUL LAWFUL ORDERS FROM US TO LEAVE AND DISPERSED AND SO AFTER THAT WE REACHED A POINT WHERE IT WAS TIME TO DISPERSE THE CROWD AND SO WE THOSE TACTICS TOO. IT’S CROWD DISPERSAL. SO THE LAST ONE YOU SAID, THIS IS A VERY IF UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT CHARLESTON IF WE HAVE RIGHT POLICE HAVE TEAR GAS IN THE STREETS WE HAD THIS. HOW ARE WE DEFINING SUCCESS? US JUST WENT TROLLING THE CROWD OR JUST I THINK SUCCESS IS DEFINED MANY WAYS IN WHAT WE SAW IN THE CITY OF GREENVILLE THIS WEEKEND. I THINK YOU HAD VERY GOOD EVENTS. HAD HUNDREDS OF ALL OVER THE TWO DAYS. THERE WAS THERE WAS WE COULD SAY THOUSANDS. PEOPLE THAT CAME DOWNTOWN GOT TO EXPRESS THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. DO SO IN A IN A MANNER THAT WAS WITHIN THE LAW. THAT THAT IS A S WE HAD NO INJURIES. DURING I MEAN THINK ABOUT ALL OF THAT AND ALL THE PEOPLE MARCHING, YOU KNOW THAT THE ONE ON YESTERDAY AT FOUR O’CLOCK. THERE WAS THERE COULD BE 7 OR 800 PEOPLE THERE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY JUST SHY OF A THOUSAND MAYBE IT. IT WAS A LARGE CROWD. NO ONE INJURED WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND THAT SIGHS CROWD. AND HAVE NO INCIDENTS. THAT’S THAT’S HUGE. THE ABOU 200 LAST NIGHT THAT WERE HANGING OUT AND WOULD NOT DISPERSE. YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE LARGE CROWDS THAT CAME OUT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY THAT WERE PEACEFUL AND GOT TO GET THEIR VOICES HEARD. THEY WERE GREAT TO WORK WITH AND WE APPRECIATE THEM AND HOPE THEY COME BACK SOON WHERE THAT’S THAT’S WHAT WE WANT IN GREENVILLE. WE’RE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY MANY DIVERSE OPINIONS AND WE’RE A PLACE FOR THEM TO BE SHARED AND THAT’S WHAT WE WANTED TO OFFER TO EVERYONE BUT YOU KNOW THIS GROUP THAT WE ENDED UP WITH LAST NIGHT. THEY WEREN’T THERE ABOUT HAVING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT? HAVE TO SPEAK THERE. THEREFORE OTHER THIN YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WAS UNIQUE LOOKING BACK ON THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND IN ME AND THE CHIEF TALKED THIS MORNING IS THE FACT THAT I THINK BOTH THE UM VERY PEACEFUL ORGANIZERS TO VERY PEACEFUL PROTESTERS LEFT WITH A MAYBE A NEWFOUND IDEA OF WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GREENVILLE COUNTY LOOKS LIKE AND GREENVILLE CITY. I KNOW WE LEFT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING WITH HOW COMPLIANT HOW PEACEFUL THE TRUE PROCESS OF WHAT THE BEST IS THEY WERE TRYING TO RELAY THIS WEEKEND JUST LIKE REVEREND FLEMING ALLUDED TO YOU KNOW, WE ALL GOT A PRINT TAUGHT BUT WE DIDN’T REALLY TALK ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE PROCESS THE PROTESTS AND WHAT THE MESSAGE WAS. IT’S THE MESSAGE OF BEING RECOGNIZED AS A MESSAGE OF LETTING YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW I FEEL. THAT’S WHAT THEY WERE TELLING US. YOU. DON’T KNOW HOW I FEEL THEY LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THIS SIDE THE CITIZENS THE PUBLIC ON THE OTHER SIDE. BARS, THE PEACEFUL GROUP A VERY COMPLIANT GROUP. I THINK BOTH LEFT WITH A WITH A RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER THAT WE CAN BUILD ON. I’M NOT SAYING IT’S A GREAT FOUNDATION YET, BUT I DO THINK WE’RE MOVING THAT DIRECTION. AGAIN, WE’RE FOCUSING NOW. LOOK WHO’S GETTING ATTENTION A VERY SMALL GROUP THAT STAYED AROUND THAT THEIR INTENTION WAS AGITATE AND INSIGHT. AND THEY REALLY ARE THE ONES WHO TURNED IT INTO A IT WAS LEANING TOWARD A CRIMINAL MATTER. AND JUST WOULD NOT COOPERATE. THERE WAS NO TALKING TO THEM. THEY’RE ALL THAT HAD STOPPED. WE STILL WENT ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF PAST THAT WERE THEY REFUSE TO COMMUNICATE BEFORE WE EVEN BEGAN TO START TO DEPLOY RESOURCES OUT THERE. WE HOPED THAT THAT WOULD JUST MOVE THEM ALSO. THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. I MEAN IT HAD A HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO MENTION TO WE I MENTIONED. ABLE TO THANK EARLIER THERE WAS ALSO SOME OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVIST DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO NECESSARILY WITH THESE EVENTS THAT CAME OUT AND HELPED KEEP A LOT OF CALM AND THAT WAS TRACY FANT AND YOU A THOMPSON AND SO ALSO WANT TO THANK THEM BECAUSE IT’S GOOD TO HAVE THESE COMMUNITY ACTIVIST COME OUT AND HELP, YOU KNOW, FACILITATE THE DIALOGUE AND KEEP EVERYBODY CALM BUT THOSE T I KNOW YOU HAD ABOUT 1.5 HOUR MEETING WITH DEREK. ALSO, THE OTHER ACTIVISTS, BRUCE WILSON AND SOME OTHERS. SOME OF THE THINGS THEY WANTED TO BRING TO THE TABLE WAS THE OPENING UP OF THE POLICE CHIEF. THEY WANTED MORE OF A FOCUS ON SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY TAKING UP THAT POSITION. THEY ALSO WANTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXPANSION. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR REACTION IS TO THAT? >> THANK YOU. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO ONE OF THE THREE GROUP ORGANIZERS, BRUCE WILSON. I KNOW THEY HAVE SOME CONCERNS, THEY BROUGHT SOME PEOPLE TO THE MEETING THAT HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE ACTIVITY. IT WAS OVERALL A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. SOME OF THE POLICE TACTICS AND THE LOGISTICS OF THE MOMENT. SOME OF THE ARRESTS THAT WERE MADE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND REALIZED THERE WAS SOME LEARNING TO BE DONE HERE. I DID NOT EXPECT AN EVENT LIKE THIS. WHEN YOU ARE PURCHASED DEPENDENT — A PARTICIPANT LIKE THIS, YOU GO I AM HERE PEACEFULLY, WHY DO YOU NEED TO SHOW A FORCE? IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HOW THIS IS PERCEIVED BY THE PEOPLE IN THE EVENT. SOME OF THE ARRESTS BEING MAD, THAT IS IMPORTANT. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY WERE ARRESTED AND THEY DID KNOW. THEN YOU HAVE THE STORY AND YOU SEE WHY THAT PERSON WAS ARRESTED BUT IN THE EVENT, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. YOU JUST SEE SOMEBODY BEING ARRESTED AND YOU WONDER WHY. IT IS A TURN OF A PAGE HERE. THERE WERE A FEW ARRESTS, NO INJURIES. IT WAS JUST A NICE PERSPECTIVE. BUT WE DID NOT SPEND ALL THE TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT. ASHLEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, BIGGER ISSUES, ISSUES OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ISSUES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. >> IN TERMS OF THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THE REACTION WAS TO THAT? >> THE SUBPOENA POWER FOR THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD. >> IN TERMS OF POLICE REVIEW BOARDS, WE HAD A CITIZEN POLICE REVIEW BOARD. DOES THE COUNTY HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? THE CITY ALWAYS HAS SOME KIND OF BODY. WE TALKED ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS ROLE IS TO GET SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE AND ROLL LIKE THAT. JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT THE WHOLE ATTITUDE WAS, IT REALLY DOES START WITH THAT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION TO REALLY — TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF ANY COMPLAINTS. THAT IS SOMETHING THE CITY COUNCIL CAN LOOK AT. >> MY NEXT QUESTION WAS FOR CHIEF THOMPSON. ALSO, FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER EVENTS, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SATURDAY EVENING, SOME PEPPER SPRAY BULLETS WHERE DEPLOYED. HER CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? — THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? >> WERE USED PEPPER SPRAY BALLS, IT IS A PAINTBALL STUNK ON EXCEPT THE ROUNDS THAT IT USED CARRIES A MACE IN THE CAPSULE. THOSE WERE NOT SHOT AT ANYBODY. WHAT WE DO WAS INDIRECT. IT IS THE GROUND — PITCH THE GROUND AND IT GIVES FUMES. THAT WAS DEPLOYED AND IT WAS SHOT ON THE GROUND. >> CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE SITUATION? >> IF POLICE FOR LIKE THEY ARE GETTING PUSHED AND THERE IS A CHARGE, WE HAVE CERTAIN TACTICS WE DEPLOY TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT. >> I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU AND SHERIFF LEWIS AS WELL. CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THE LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNED WITH SOME OF THE DEMONSTRATORS? >> YES. WE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE CROWD. WHAT YOU SAW OUT THERE, YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND SEE IT. YOU CAN SEE THE POLICE OFFICERS SATURDAY NIGHT, THEY WERE LINED UP. THEY HAD A REGULAR UNIFORM, THERE WAS NO TACTICAL GEAR USED. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, NO NEED FOR THAT. THERE IS A BACK THERE. YOU MAY SEE SOME LINES THAT WOULD BE DEPUTIES. THIS IS NOT A SITUATION WHERE THOSE OFFICERS CAN JUST GET THEIR GEAR ON AND GET THEIR SHIELDS AND HELMETS. WE HAVE TO HAVE A TEAM READY TO STEP IN. THAT IS WHAT YOU SEE, LEADERS OF SECURITY. WE DID NOT HAVE TO USE THEM SATURDAY NIGHT. LAST NIGHT, YOU SAW NO SHIELDS UNTIL AFTER 10:0. THAT IS WHEN YOU SAW THE FIELD FOR STEAM COMING OUT OF THAT. THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU SAW ANYBODY IN THAT YEAR. >> SHERIFF LEWIS, OUTSIDE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PART WOULD B THAT WE MET AND TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT IN THE PROTESTS THAT WE DIDN’T KNOW. THEY ARE NOT ACTIVIST TO CALL US AND ASK US QUESTIONS. WE KNEW TO GO TO. — WHO TO GO TO. IT WAS SURPRISING HOW MUCH THEY WERE WILLING TO HELP AS THINGS GOT ISOLATED A LITTLE BIT. WE BLOCKED TRAFFIC BEHIND THEM. WE OPENED UP TRAFFIC ON ONE END. THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER LAST NIGHT. >> I HAVE ONE LAST ONE FOR EVERYONE. IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE DEMONSTRATIONS GOING FORWARD? HAVE THERE BEEN ANY TALKS ABOUT THAT? >> I KNOW FROM OUR SIDE, WE DON’T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT RIGHT NOW. WE CERTAINLY ANTICIPATE THAT AS THINGS MOVE FORWARD AND BELIEVE IT WILL BE MORE PEACEFUL THAN LATE LAST NIGHT. WE JUST HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT AND SEE HOW THAT GOES. BUT WE DON’T HAVE ANY REQUESTS WITH THAT IN OUR OFFICE AT THIS TIME. >> I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE COMING. YOU CAN JUST GO ON THE CITY WEBSITE AND ATTEMPT TO PICK IT. WE WILL DO IT WE CAN TO MAKE YOUR EVENT GOOD AND SUCCESSFUL. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHIEF THOMPSON AND SHERIFF LEWIS. REVEREND MILLS MENTIONED THIS WAS A TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT STANDARD EAR — STANDARD DRIVEN TRAINING. ARE YOU TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT YOUR OWN OFFICERS? YOUR OWN TRAINING? >> THIS IS 24 HOURS OLD FOR US. WE HAVE DEBRIEFED OUR STAFF THIS MORNING AND WE HAVE TALKED. BOTH AGENCIES ARE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED. WE WERE MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR POLICIES MEET A NATIONAL STANDARD. OUR POLICIES MIRROR EACH OTHER IN A LOT OF WAYS. FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT THAT POLICY IS, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED HERE, WE USED THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. YOU WATCHED THE VIDEO UP THERE. THERE CANNOT BE A WORSE SITUATION. THEN THEY RELEASE TO THEIR POLICY. THE USED NECK RESTRAINT AND CHOKE HOLDS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE DON’T DO THAT HERE. THAT WILL BE A PROCESS TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT OUR POLICY IS IF WE WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT. >> SAME FOR US. WE HAD A MEETING AT 1:00, WE STARTED THE REVIEW, THE AFTER ACTION PLAN STARTED LAST NIGHT AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE MORNING. WE WILL LOOK AT ALL OF THAT. WE DO NOT USE NECK RESTRAINT. THAT IS NOT A TACTIC WE EMPLOY. >> ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU ARE THE CITY, IS THERE ANY KIND OF ESTIMA FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE PROTESTED IN TOTAL THIS WEEKEND? >> WE LOOKED A 3. IN AND OUT GROUPS, I WAS SAY ABOUT 1500. >> ABOUT 1500. THERE WERE SOME IN AND OUT. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE LEFT. >> THANK YOU. >> IN GREENVILLE, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE DECLARING VICTORY. WHAT MADE US DIFFERENT THAN COLUMBIA OR CHARLESTON? >> I DID NOT USE THAT WORD. I WOULD NOT USE THAT WORD. THERE IS NO VICTORY IN THIS. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THINGS WORKED OUT DIFFERENT HERE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WHOLE ARRAY. THAT SOMETHING PEOPLE CAME OUT AND PARTICIPATED SO VIGOROUSLY. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. THERE WERE HARDLY ANY ACCIDENTS. HE HAD MANY EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE. AT THOSE EVENTS, WE ALWAYS HAVE ACCIDENTS, PEOPLE TRIP AND FALL. WE DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT IS REMARKABLE. I THINK A LOT OF THINGS — WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LUCKY BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE SECRET WAS DIALOGUE. YOU HEARD THAT. I CAN’T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH, IT IS REAL, AUTHENTIC. THE CONVERSATION STARTED EARLY WITH THE DIALOGUE WITHIN THEM. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS IF WE CONTINUE THAT INTO THE FUTURE. WE LEARN FROM THE UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE ABOUT THE REAL ISSUE. ONCE THE EVENT IS OVER WITH, WATCH OUT. THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER GROUP THAT CAME IN LATE AT NIGHT. THEY ARE HERE FOR A WHOLE DIFFERENT PURPOSE. WE EXPECTED THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN AND DID HAPPEN. THE EVENTS THEMSELVES, THE CONVERSATION, THE DIALOGUE PAID OFF. THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THAT GOING WORD. — FORWARD. >> I HAD A QUESTION FOR REVEREND MILLS. IT IS THE SAME QUESTION. I WOULD JUST LIKE BOTH OF YOU TO ANSWER. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THE DEMONSTRATORS WHO WERE THERE LAST NIGHT THAT DID NOT LEAD WITH EVERYBODY ELSE? I GIVE KUDOS TO ALL OF THOSE THAT DID NOT PARTICIPATE — THAT DID PARTICIPATE OVER THE WEEKEND. THE PROCEDURES AFTER THEY SIGNED UP. I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT. A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN THE PROCESS OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE OVER. >> I THINK THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS JUST A QUICK STUDY OF WHO GEORGE FLOYD WAS. AND IF THESE PROTESTS ARE TO TRULY SHED LIGHT ON HIS LIFE AND THE UNFORTUNATE DEMISE HE HAD, THEY SHOULD MIRROR THE PEACEFUL KIND OF LIFE HE LIVED. I THINK THAT UNITY IS THE CALL OF THE DAY. THERE IS NO NEED TO LOOK FOR TROUBLE. WE WANT TO ADDRESS TROUBLE AND WHERE THERE ARE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED, THIS FORMAT IS ONE THAT CAN BE USED AND HAS BEEN USED FOR DECADES. GREENVILLE IS A PLACE WHERE WE LIVE AND WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE DIGNITY AND THE PROGRESS THAT IS BEING MADE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOTEWORTHY. THOSE WHO ARE ASSEMBLING AGAIN, I PARTICIPATED. I WAS OUT THERE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPRESSION OF DISCONTENT WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY. >> THANK YOU TO THE CHI. I CAN’T SAY POSSIBLY BETTER. LEARN EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US. WE ACCEPT CRITICISM WHERE IT MAY LIE IN TERMS OF ANYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE BIG PICTURE IS SHOWING WELL. THANK YOU ALL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINU

Search for new Greenville police chief suspended due to COVID-19, officials say

Interim Chief Howie Thompson will continue to serve

The search for Greenville’s new police chief has been suspended, according to City of Greenville communications director Beth Brotherton.(Video above is from media briefing on Monday)It’s due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and the increased difficulty for candidates to travel or consider a move, Brotherton said.According to Brotherton, the decision was made a week ago, several days prior to the weekend protests.”City leaders were grateful for Chief Thompson’s excellent communications skills and his willingness to meet with protestors on the front lines to de-escalate potential conflicts and seek peaceful resolution. Chief Thompson has proven to be an effective, respected, engaged leader and will continue in the role for several more months, Brotherton said.Thompson was appointed interim chief last year after former chief Ken Miller’s resigned.

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

The search for Greenville’s new police chief has been suspended, according to City of Greenville communications director Beth Brotherton.

(Video above is from media briefing on Monday)

It’s due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and the increased difficulty for candidates to travel or consider a move, Brotherton said.

According to Brotherton, the decision was made a week ago, several days prior to the weekend protests.

“City leaders were grateful for Chief Thompson’s excellent communications skills and his willingness to meet with protestors on the front lines to de-escalate potential conflicts and seek peaceful resolution. Chief Thompson has proven to be an effective, respected, engaged leader and will continue in the role for several more months, Brotherton said.

Thompson was appointed interim chief last year after former chief Ken Miller’s resigned.

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