Rally at the Rochester Police Department this FRIDAY AT 4:30PM

 

3/7/2006

Equality and Justice for All

The Thomson Family, Faith Alliance Gods Holy Outreach Ministries’, International Socialist Organization, Friends Helping Friends, and the community

ATTN: To the Community and the Media

In regards to: A sit in at the Rochester Police Department

Date: 3/10/06

Time: 4:30 p.m.

Location: the RPD Head Quarters on Exchange St

To Whom It May Concern:

Can you imagine seeing your mother, who has a known History of mental illness, being gunned down in front of you, by a police that your family was hoping would handle an emotional disturbed person different then a normal case. Unfortunately, this is the case for the late Patricia Thompson Family, who was killed by, a rookie cop late last Thursday night. As it stands our position is, the Coalition of organizations as, well as Faith leaders are wondering why the acting Chief Tim Hickey, felt so anxious to justify an officer killing a 55 year old mental patient. Now that the families speaking out and, community Activist are questioning, where was the EDPRT team, which was implemented for situations such as this, suddenly the Chief, goes into hiding with no comments. There was a training through the RPD which, I was asked to come to the Emotional Disturbed Persons Response Team in December and, was told in writing, 11 more officers were being added the team designed to train officers, not to kill mental distraught patience’s but, to get them safely to treatment. I turned the class down in Dec 2005 because, I was sick at the time. This team previously had 42- members but now have 55, so why wasn’t any one of them called to a known disturb woman’s house who the RPD in the past has subdued, until the proper medical help came to escort Mrs. Thompson to the Hospital. In addition, we have tried to collaborate in the past with the RPD requesting, an independent Clergy ride along program which, we had funders in place, only requesting an endorsement from the RPD. The few Organizations involved explained in 7/05 how we would be intervention, avoiding another mental person being killed because, of the negligence of inexperienced Police officers who, panic from lack of training. I my self called the Ex acting Chief emailed and faxed him. We had meetings with the previous Mayor, stressing the vitalness of our proposal and were ignored. Now we must make the Officials hear our pleas for justice and Equality for all on Friday in our peaceful sit in.

Sincerely Activist Rev: Joy Powell- Weh 585-317-2117