Forums aimed at easing racial tensions
Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News
Published April 25, 2007 at midnight
An upcoming series of race forums is intended to ease tensions between members of the black community and Aurora's predominantly white police force.
Race relations came to the forefront again last week with the promotion of a white sergeant after he allegedly assaulted a black woman and her daughter outside a store.
A small activist group critical of the department is boycotting the forums. But Police Chief Daniel Oates says that the majority of those involved are looking forward to the opportunity for frank discussion.
The forums, scheduled for May 7-9, will put 30 officers in a room with 30 members of the community. The forums will be closed to the media.
"This is a first-ever event for us," Oates said. "Officers had a lot of anxiety about whether there can be true and frank dialogue with the media in attendance, and I accepted that for this first time out."
The activist group Colorado Communities United Against Police Brutality announced Tuesday that it will not participate, primarily because the forums are not open to the media. Instead, the group said, it will hold a set of "community tribunals" in which it will "do its own investigations."
Citizens who want to attend the forums can contact Capt. Jack DaLuz at 303-739-6362 or
Jdaluz@auroragov.org.
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