Dear Editor:
I would like to express my great appreciation to all of the members of the Public Safety Strategic Planning Group (or SPG). For those who may not know, the SPG was formed to continue and expand upon the work of the initial task force who researched for the City Council the observations made in the Bobcat report for police improvement.
As far as I’m concerned, the SPG couldn’t have been formed a moment too soon. While the BLM protests during the Summer of 2020 were a catalyst, police reform in Chelsea, and nationwide, has been long overdue.
Hundreds of young people and people of color have lost their lives at the hands of the police over the past several decades and beyond. Here in Chelsea, my own son, Eric Robbins, was a victim of such a death.
In 2015, Eric’s young life was cut short by the same officers tasked with protecting him, his body was treated like roadkill, and our family was grossly disrespected on multiple occasions under the arrogant and incompetent leadership of then Chief Toth. Sadly, this event seems to be ignored, forgotten, or both.
Fast forward to the present: On July 12, I attended one of SPG’s meetings held at the library. Dr. Barbara Patrick from EMU’s SMART Project was invited to present and review their process for helping the city and the police department review, evaluate, and implement any new changes to the current practices. Her role is to facilitate research and help guide the City Council and the Police Chief to formulate new polices, as they see fit.
Like many public meetings, it was “a meeting held in public, not a public meeting”. That is, you are invited to listen, and therefore become informed as to its proceedings, conclusions, and actions. Time is usually reserved for brief comments or questions, but it is not intended for spectators to hijack the proceedings or interrogate its participants. Unfortunately, some belligerent members of our community thought they should interrogate the duly appointed committee, as well as continually interrupt Dr. Patrick.
The good news is that they unwittingly demonstrated the exact reason why we so desperately need the SPG and the expertise of SMART, and particularly Dr. Patrick. I admire how she bravely remained professional while enduring incredible rudeness from some of the audience. On behalf of the majority of the city, I extend our apologies to her for the hideous behavior of our more vocal, yet misguided minority.
Anyone and everyone in the community has had ample (three years or so) opportunity to attend Council Meetings, provide comment on the need to re-evaluate the police department (or any other issue) contact one or more Council Members or the Mayor for more in-depth discussions, attend the initial task force’s meetings, and/or conduct their own independent research.
I’m not sure what rock certain members of our citizenry have been trapped under, but they are suddenly offended that words like “bias” and “racism” are being used. How about supporting the SPG’s efforts to erase said bias and racism, rather than denying its existence? How about abandoning ignorance and disruptiveness in favor of open-mindedness and fair treatment of all?
Thankfully, our new Police Chief seems willing to negate some of consequences of what we had to endure for 15+ years. So far, he hasn’t disrespected his fellow participants of the SPG like Chief Toth did, or insist that no changes or improvements could ever be made to his department.
In addition, our current Council is willing to re-evaluate antiquated police practices for the benefit of all citizens with the assistance of outside resources, rather than continue to turn a blind eye. I can’t thank them enough.
Going forward, I suggest that there be more civility at the SPG’s upcoming meetings. Their success is literally a matter of life and death.
Maura Robbins
Chelsea
(Publisher’s note: A reminder to readers that opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those solely of the author.)
