The document is intended to amplify the city’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, City Manager Dan Johnson said.
“I’m ready to be held accountable,” he said. “I honor that as my duty to you as your executive, and I believe we have a very willing and motivated organization that wants to do better. I represent them in saying we will meet this mission.”
The move comes in the wake of the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd, a black man, died in police custody. Subsequent protests against police brutality and systemic racism were held in Richardson and across the nation.
The equality statement condemns racism while reinforcing the city’s commitment to maintaining a “best-in-class” police department. It also establishes a goal to “better lead and serve by actively listening to our community’s diverse voices.”
Council spoke in support of the statement, with Mayor Paul Voelker and others calling it a reference point for when they are asked about equity in the city.
“I salute the fact that we are here to solve problems,” Council Member Bob Dubey said. “We want to be a part of the solution, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”
Council Member Ken Hutchenrider, who is also the president of Methodist Richardson Medical Center, commended the city’s police department and said it is possible to favor diversity while also supporting police officers. He drew a parallel between tweaking policing practices and correcting issues in the medical industry, which, at one point, had multiple incidents of surgeons operating on the wrong part of the body.
“We didn’t disband surgery,” he said of the medical community’s response to the event. “We took a time out, looked at policies [and] made appropriate corrections.”
Council Member Kyle Kepner said he believes the police department in Richardson is of a “higher caliber” than most, but he said he knows that does not mean it is without fault.
“They are a shining example of how police work should be done in this region, but they also know they are not 100% perfect and can always get better,” he said.
Each city will have its own ways of rooting out racism, Council Member Steve Mitchell said, adding that Floyd’s death provides a good opportunity for Richardson and the nation to examine where they stand on issues of injustice.
“When I watch the videos and see the pictures of the senseless killing of George Floyd, it’s heartbreaking,” he said. “And when I see peaceful protests going on in cities, I say, 'We hear you, and we understand there are changes that need to be made.’”
Johnson said that he and his staff will review their policies and procedures to ensure that all city departments are adhering to the equality statement and that he would report back with their progress at a future meeting. Later this month, Richardson Police Chief Jimmy Spivey will brief council on the department’s policy on use of force in the apprehension of suspects.
To read the equality statement in full, visit this link.
