Century Council To Consider A Police ‘Excessive Force Policy’

July 16, 2017

Monday night, the Century Town Council will consider an “excessive force policy” that protects individuals that take part  in non-violent civil rights demonstrations.

It’s policy under a 1974 federal law that was amended in 1990 that is required of entities receiving federal housing funds. It requires the adoption of a policy of enforcing state and local laws against physically barring entrance to or exit from a facility or location that is the subject on a nonviolent civil rights demonstration.

The Town’s policy,  adopted under the federal standards, will “prohibit the use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies within its jurisdiction against any individuals engaged in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations, to enforce…laws against physically barring entrance to exit from a facility or location which is the subject of such nonviolent civil rights demonstration,” according to a resolution to be considered by the council.

Also Monday night, the council will ensure that there is no conflict of interest such as family relationship between council members and persons to be considered for emergency housing funds, and hear an update on the establishment of a CRA — community redevelopment area — in the town.

The Century Town Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in council chambers at the Century Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public.

NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

7 Responses to “Century Council To Consider A Police ‘Excessive Force Policy’”

  1. Steven Adams on July 18th, 2017 4:30 am

    Response to Private Person:

    You cannot afford your own town/city police department. Between salary, operational cost, health benefits and retirement payments, those are the reasons law enforcement was given to the County many years ago. Century lacks substantial and sustainable income to finance your pipe dream sir.

  2. Private Person on July 17th, 2017 7:46 am

    Please, come to the meeting so your information will be first hand the town of Century has a lot to come back from there are a lot of things that has given this place a bad name , those that are trying to better this place needs our support, we need our own city police, but with that being said we officers that will do their jobs to the fullest, we need more jobs to better the community we need to be able to attract companies to our town we need to be an community.

  3. Don Neese on July 17th, 2017 7:05 am

    Something about this doesn’t smell right. It may look good on paper….but….it just doesn’t smell right

  4. Steven Adams on July 17th, 2017 4:29 am

    I am also is a cloud of confusion since the town of Century cannot control the actions of the County Sheriff deputies. Since the right to assemble is protected by the US Constitution, I can only guess that the town of Century is trying to establish a layer of protection, should there ever be a claim made that someone’s rights were violated during a peaceful demonstration. This way the town isn’t sued, just the Sheriff’s Office? We aren’t privileged to what this town municipal code/ordinance is but hopefully it will add additional stipulations to help govern those who wish to participate in a “peaceful” protest like prohibited acts such as blocking public streets and sidewalks from the free movement of others who may not be a part of the demonstration, prohibited from covering your face from identification and words to incite violence…. steps to help shut down the beginning steps to violent protests.

  5. Tina Freeman on July 16th, 2017 8:54 pm

    These comments ahead of mine are both excellant points being mentioned,however merely mentioning them and not participating in meetings as citizens here are like;faith without works is dead or if you dont vote then dont complain.Hope to see our Centurians at the Monday meeting@7pm!Together we can all make a difference for the better.

  6. SD on July 16th, 2017 5:05 pm

    The phrase “nonviolent civil rights demonstration” is used in this story several times. The Town’s policy mentioned is to “prohibit the use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies within its jurisdiction against any individuals engaged in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations”.

    Peaceful, nonviolent protests and demonstrations are acceptable in our society and those involved generally have nothing to fear from law enforcement agencies. It seems, however, that many so-called nonviolent demonstrations are not nonviolent. Violence, rioting and destruction of property are not acceptable and are criminal. In those cases, law enforcement agencies have both the right and the duty to use whatever force is necessary to stop those involved.

    The Town is part of Escambia County and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department has jurisdiction here. The Town has no authority to tell them otherwise or how to do their job. Be glad that they are here. Without them, crime in this town would be worse than it already is.

    Neither the mayor nor the Town Council need to do anything to protect the rights of individuals involved in peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations – those rights are already protected. And they should do nothing to protect those who choose to engage in violence and rioting. They have many more important things with which to deal.

  7. Citizen on July 16th, 2017 12:56 pm

    >>>>”law enforcement agencies within its jurisdiction”

    Does Century have a police department now. No

    The deputies of Escambia County have authority given by the Sheriff who is a constitutional officer under the state of Florida.

    Conflict of Interest?

    Sounds like some people did not get their houses fixed and it is probably because they did not have clear title, or were not within the historic district boundaries to receive those funds that came from a specific grant because of their historical designation.

    Hope it is peaceful. The truth will set you free.

    Some things really need to cleared up in that town.

    Ignorance is darkness. Everyone has the right to compete, but have their questions answered

    Please, someone educate them rather than encourage them to feel victimized.
    Encourage civil behavior.

    But town council, you should have been making these things clear from the start, if you even know it yourself.

    If there is favoritism, shame on you.

    Hope this is not just a Dog and Pony Show. I did seee where Hawkins had ran on this platform that they were being discriminated against rather than to teach them. Also why did not he use one of his three non profit organizations to help. Look them up. It’s a public record that he is on them.