Episode 35: We R Allies with Guests Jesse Burwell & Terrence Sembly

Episode 35: We R Allies with Guests Jesse Burwell & Terrence Sembly

 

We’re back with another episode of our We R Allies series, with guests Terrence Sembly and Jesse Burwell. They join us to discuss their lived experience as Black police employees through the lens of community policing at the Durham Police Department. They explain the challenge that comes with trying to get community members involved - especially to attend meetings on a regular basis. In order to improve the “community” part of community policing, ALL people need to be at the table with an open mind. There are many ways community members can get involved! Attend Partners Against Crime (PAC) meetings, participate in the police department’s budget process, join the Citizen’s Police Academy, and attend any community events sponsored by your local police department. And, of course, you need to vote! If you want changes to happen, you have to participate in the *process* of making those changes. Our guests and hosts share a lot of ideas for how to improve community policing, and end by discussing ways to better recruit for the police department so their employees reflect the current times and communities they’re in. There’s a lot of work to do on both sides of the issue, but we encourage everyone to get involved in their community!

 

Episode 15: Defund Police - Episode 15 Re-Release: Defund Durham Police: The Exercise

Durham PD Community Programs & PAC: Community Services Division | Durham, NC (durhamnc.gov)