By Kevin Milosevich,
Chief of Police
I’d like to commend the Renton Reporter for its series of articles on “Can Ferguson Happen Here?” This is a very important and serious issue, not only for the nation but for our city and community. And specifically for the Renton Police Department.
Last week the Renton Reporter interviewed Officer Mark Coleman, former Police Guild president, who offered his perspective and that of the Police Guild on the issue. I would like to respectfully state that I do not agree with all of Officer Coleman’s comments.
As Renton’s police chief, representing over 150 officers in the Renton Police Department and the nearly 100,000 residents of Renton, I would like to take this opportunity to share my viewpoint and that of the Mayor’s Office.
Officer Coleman’s description of the department as a “close-knit organization of comrades” could lead the reader to the misconception that law enforcement is more concerned about their own people than with taking care of the needs of the community. The fact is that the most important duty of police is to protect our community and the rights of the people in our community.
And with regard to diversity and race — I do not want my officers to be color blind! Race and equity matter. Officers should take into consideration the facts and circumstances including the race and ethnicity of those involved when it comes to decision making.
I also believe that it is very important for our police force to reflect the diversity in our community. Currently we do not.
We cannot ignore the existence of historical and institutional racial injustice that affects our community today. It is very important for us in the police department, who have been entrusted with the responsibility to protect our community, to create awareness and understanding, revisit our policies and procedures, provide training, and take steps to ensure that we address issues related to race, equity and inclusion in our community.
We have taken some proactive steps both internally and externally to address these issues. The City of Renton has provided mandatory training to all employees on diversity and inclusion, and specifically addressed issues related to race.
The police department was the first to ensure that everyone in the department completed the training. We have reviewed and revised several policies that impact how officers use force and make decisions.
Citywide, we are in the process of establishing an equity lens to evaluate various systems, programs and procedures. And employment is one our key focus areas — we are looking at several different ways to make our hiring practices and policies more inclusive.
In his editorial Brian Beckley mentioned that it is very important for police to connect with the community and build trust. I whole-heartedly agree and we have been exploring ways that we can create those connections and relationships.
Recently, I met with police chiefs from this region, along with Ed Prince, executive director of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs (and Renton City Council president), to see how we can better collaborate with members of the African-American community.
On Martin Luther King Day, I participated in a community conversation sponsored by Living Hope Christian Fellowship (see Page 1). The goal of the event was to “build healthy bridges across the racial divide” and to foster and celebrate understanding and cooperation. I am working on an effort to set up my command staff as liaisons to work closely with the diverse community groups in Renton. We will build on and continue these and other efforts to build connections with our community.
Race, equity and inclusion – we take this very seriously. Not because it is in the national news but because it is the right thing to do.
Kevin Milosevich is chief of the Renton Police Department. He can be reached at kmilosevich@rentonwa.gov
