Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the police chief's comments on the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Allen police chief on Oct. 4 had a candid conversation about national policing issues with a group of business leaders ahead of the department's appearance at block parties across the city for National Night Out.
The Allen Police Department is discussing protocols to prevent and respond to a possible high-profile police shooting, Harvey told the Allen-Fairview Chamber of Commerce at its monthly luncheon. The department is training officers in de-escalation tactics and discussing the protocols for investigating police conduct in case a high-profile police shooting were to occur, he said.
The department would likely ask the state's Texas Ranger Division to investigate in the event of an officer-involved shooting, Chief Brian Harvey said during an Allen-Fairview Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey, pictured at City Hall, addressed members of the Allen-Fairview Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday at a separate event.[/caption]
"When we look at the national picture, we know we are going to have a third party come in to investigate," Harvey said, adding an independent investigation would help the department avoid the appearance of bias associated with an internal probe.
Police would also involve the district attorney's office early in the investigation process for the sake of transparency, he said.
Officers have successfully employed de-escalation techniques in potentially dangerous situations, Harvey said. He also stressed the importance of preventive mental-health treatment in avoiding some of these scenarios.
The chief made his comments in light of a series of high-profile shootings of black men by officers in other departments across the nation that have drawn criticism from the Black Lives Matter movement.
Although Harvey remained neutral on Black Lives Matter in his talk, he said he believes its message is sometimes misunderstood. The movement, he said, could be better understood as "black lives matter as much as anyone else."
The Allen Police Department is working to build positive relationships in the community, which would help ensure the department receives community support in the event of a potential shooting investigation, Harvey said.
Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey, pictured at City Hall, addressed members of the Allen-Fairview Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday at a separate event.[/caption]
"When we look at the national picture, we know we are going to have a third party come in to investigate," Harvey said, adding an independent investigation would help the department avoid the appearance of bias associated with an internal probe.
Police would also involve the district attorney's office early in the investigation process for the sake of transparency, he said.
Officers have successfully employed de-escalation techniques in potentially dangerous situations, Harvey said. He also stressed the importance of preventive mental-health treatment in avoiding some of these scenarios.
The chief made his comments in light of a series of high-profile shootings of black men by officers in other departments across the nation that have drawn criticism from the Black Lives Matter movement.
Although Harvey remained neutral on Black Lives Matter in his talk, he said he believes its message is sometimes misunderstood. The movement, he said, could be better understood as "black lives matter as much as anyone else."
The Allen Police Department is working to build positive relationships in the community, which would help ensure the department receives community support in the event of a potential shooting investigation, Harvey said.
