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PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) – The deadly ambush shooting on police officers in Dallas took place despite years of community policing in the city and others across North Texas.
Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere said, “All it takes is the acts of one person to disrupt a really good situation.”
LaRosiliere credits neighborhood policing with his city’s low crime rate. “Neighborhood policing is not a formation of a reaction. It takes years and years of relationship-building.”
The Mayor said his city has maintained excellent relations with a variety of community groups.
Before and after President Obama came to Dallas Tuesday, he’s met with police, community groups and civil rights leaders to improve community policing nationwide.
Terrence Cunningham, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, met with the President this week, and came to Dallas Tuesday. “We want to be able to renew the good culture of policing and weed out the bad culture of policing. We want to provide leadership training to all mid-level and executive level police officers in the country.”
As for the Mayor, he grew up in Harlem and understands very well the long-standing complaints African-Americans have had about police. “As a young African-American man, I’ve had cases where I was pulled over, you have a sense of hurt and misunderstanding as to why this is happening.”
But the mayor said he has moved past that. “I think in life, you have to deal with the cards you’re dealt, and move forward.”
He said the key for everyone is to hold him or herself accountable. “It’s really about taking personal responsibility for who you are and what you do.”
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