by Wesley Harris
In his third meeting with Ruston citizens, Police Chief Eric Watson addressed some of the same concerns raised at his previous “Chats with the Chief.”
Cold cases, car burglaries, nighttime disturbances, and officer demeanor during public encounters were among the two dozen questions submitted by about 50 citizens at a meeting at Zion Traveler Baptist Church Monday night.
The community meeting, one way Watson is interacting with the public to build trust and support, was significantly less contentious than one held about two weeks ago.
Monday’s meeting began with prayer and music which created an entirely different tone from the last “chat” that included complaints of police harassment. Coach Wilbert Ellis moderated the meeting, cautioning attendees that decorum was expected in the house of the Lord, setting a positive tone from the outset, stating he supported the work of the chief, city council member Angela Mayfield, and Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker.
Watson gave a brief opening statement outlining his vision for the Ruston Police Department, focusing on how officers interact with the public.
“I want my police officers to be visible in the community in a positive way,” Watson said. “I want everybody who has interaction with the police department to leave with a positive perception of that interaction. Is that going happen? No, that’s why it’s called a vision . . . sometimes when the police are called, it’s not going be a positive interaction. I think most of you would agree with that. But we can do better, and I’m going to make mistakes. My police officers are going to make mistakes, but we’re going to get better.”
Questions to the chief were then submitted in writing and read to the audience by Mayfield before Watson responded to each one.
Many of the questions pertained to quality of life issues in neighborhoods—loud vehicles, street racing, loud parties and other disturbances.
Watson said vehicle burglaries were particularly frustrating.
“Car burglars [are a] big headache for me right now, simply because it seems like they continuously happen,” said Watson. “They’re in different areas of the city. Once we beef up patrol in one area of city, they start happening somewhere else.”
Watson said the department is placing a great deal of energy into stopping the car burglaries which typically occur in neighborhoods in the early morning hours.
A question of harassment by police was broached again, making it one of the more common questions Watson has addressed in each of his chats.
“Aggressive enforcement of the law is not harassment,” Watson said. “I get phone calls sometimes that say, ‘I’m getting harassed.’ Are you getting harassed or is there a domestic dispute at your house where the police show up three times in a month? That’s not harassment.
“I promise you they didn’t just show up at that house. They showed up because they got called to that residence. When it’s categorized as harassment, that really aggravates me because I promise you they’re not intentionally targeting that person to harass.”
Watson admitted, “I’ve got some officers who need some sensitivity training . . . We’re working on that, I assure you.”
The chief explained that when he receives a complaint on an officer, he reviews the officer’s body-worn camera video and video from the in-car cameras and that of any other officers present. He said, more times than not, the video vindicates officers rather than shows them acting inappropriately. When the investigation shows conduct beyond what is expected of officers, disciplinary action occurs.
The meeting ended with prayer after Watson answered all the submitted questions. Numerous citizens approached the chief after the meeting for more conversations.
“I’m impressed by the chief coming before us tonight and stating his vision and stating what he would like to do if he can get the full cooperation of all of us to make a team,” Ellis said.
Ellis urged citizens to recognize a team working together is more effective in dealing with any challenge. “When people come together for the same cause, great things happen.”
Another Chat with the Chief is scheduled at The Bridge at 2301 North Trenton on August 18 at 6:00 p.m.
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