Rochester Police Policy Conversation

KIMT News 3's Calyn Thompson spoke with Rochester's police chief about how the department is doing

Upper 50s winds: n 5 mph police accountability and transparency are more important now than ever.

That's why the city of rochester is starting a conversation about police policy.

Kimt news three's calyn thompson spoke to the rochester police chief about how the department is doing.xxx ?

"(nat: i can't breathe the death of george floyd in minneapolis police custody changed everything.

(dissolve) calyn: right now law enforcement across the country are under a microscope.

That's why rochester police chief jim franklin spoke to city council today about how rochester police are doing, and how the department can improve.

Chief franklin: one of the things that we have an opportunity to do here is take that reflective look in the mirror and ask ourselves: what should police be involved in?

Reimagine: how should we be providing policing services for this community?

Chief franklin discussed several topics with the council including: the hiring process of officers ?

"* community engagement ?

"* and training whn it comes to use of force.

We train our officers to think.

And part of that thinking process is: race is not the determining factor for use of force, resistance is.

And our officers are trained to standard that way.

They're trained to continually assess on an ongoing basis, what do i have in front of me and how should i respond and react?

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"(nat with cries to defund the police being heard nationwide, chief franklin wants to take this opportunity to educate the community about what the department can provide.

The answer is not defund the police and just put money over here.

It's how do we link the two things up?

How do we link up social services, county resources, those collaborative partnerships with law enforcement in providing this broader public safety picture.

To me, that's the path forward for law enforcement.

As the minnesota legislature headed back to the capitol today to discuss police reform, chief franklin says r?

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"*d will ready to make adjustments.

In rochester, calyn thompson, kimt news 3./// last week, the rochester police deparmtment launched a "digital dashboard" where the public can obtain timely information.

We'll post a link to that on our website