NCLM Southern City Volume 71, Issue 2, 2021

SOUTHERN CITY QUARTER 2 2021 12 and provide consultation, education, and tools that will foster change,” Harris said. Those efforts could compliment those already underway. NCLM’s Risk Management Services, for several years, has offered a review of individual police department policies: the Law Enforcement Risk Review Process. The process is designed to assess an agency’s adherence to best practices, court decisions, and policies and procedures related to high liability activities in law enforcement, with a goal of enhancing public safety and vali- dating that critical areas of the departments are meeting industry standards. RMS also has offered trainings designed to ensure that individual rights are understood and observed during police encounters. The task force was created following a series of deaths of unarmed black civilians by police across the country, sparking protests in cities and towns throughout the United States, includ- ing North Carolina. In this state, the protests occurred in both large cities and small towns, demonstrating the extent of the calls for change. NCLM Executive Director Paul Meyer said he hoped the report recommendations could be a catalyst for that change. “These are not easy times or easy challenges that we face. They are tough. And we need the support of one another to find the best means to move forward,” Meyer said. Robinson echoed those comments. “It’s common for many governments to be working independently to address the same challenges as each other. The League says, ‘Hey, you don’t have to go at it alone. We’re in this together.’ The continued from page 11 collective energy and effort of the task force members will, I hope, make it easier for all of the municipalities in NC to tackle the hard conversations, take a good look at their policies and practices, and then step out to make real change,” she said. In addition to the co-chairs, other task force members who helped develop the report findings and recommendations are Newport Mayor Dennis Barber, Wilson Council Member Michael Bell, Fletcher Council Member Preston Blakely, Greenville Council Member Monica Daniels, Charlotte Council Member Malcolm Gra- ham, Sedalia Mayor Pro Tem Valerie Jones, Monroe Mayor Bobby Kilgore, Banner Elk Mayor Brenda Lyerly, Winston-Salem Council Member Jeff MacIntosh, Durham Council Member Mark-Anthony Middleton, Morrisville Council Member Steve Rao, and Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor. The full report can be found at https://www.nclm.org/RacialEquity. These are not easy times or easy challenges that we face. They are tough. And we need the support of one another to find the best means to move forward . » Paul Meyer , NCLM Executive Director League Update