Task force ends, community policing continues

ATLANTA - DeKalb County's Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Public Safety is addressing concerns about the future of community policing.

Dr. Cedric Alexander was on President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

“This task force is coming to an end,” Alexander told FOX 5. “But that doesn’t mean improving relations between communities and law enforcement has to stop.”

Alexander stressed improvement between the two entities starts locally.

“It doesn't matter who is in the White House. If communities want better relationships with police, they can make it happen themselves,” Alexander said.

Alexander told FOX 5 we have seen growth over the years in this area, but we still have a long way to go.

“I’m hopeful and optimistic that the Trump administration will see the importance of continuing to build community relations,” Alexander said. “More importantly, we must remember that we are all Americans. We must work together, have compassion for one another and focus on our similarities instead of our differences.”