A Critical Moment For Reform
Prince George’s County Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin’s Statement on the Appointment of Acting Police Chief Hector Velez and the Resignation of Police Chief Hank Stawinski
By Mel Franklin
Mel Franklin is an At-Large County Councilmember on the Prince George’s County Council
“We are living in a moment where the world has changed right before our eyes. The murder of George Floyd and the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement is causing our nation to re-evaluate what the meaning of justice is in America, especially for people of color. I have had the opportunity to work with Acting Police Chief Hector Velez during the past several years of our historic reductions in crime in Prince George’s County. I have a great deal of confidence in his leadership and look forward to the important steps that I hope he will take to address matters of civil rights and community-police relations in Prince George’s County, including engaging many of our younger residents who have not been a part of our community-policing discussions in the past. I truly appreciate former Chief Hank Stawinski[‘s] decades of service to residents that I serve. While our department certainly still has its challenges, Chief Stawinski's results-driven and innovative approaches to crime reduction and prevention were essential in improving public safety over the past several years. He never refused an invitation of mine to meet with the community and answer their direct questions. I truly thank him for his public service.”
At-Large County Councilmember Mel Franklin
“I am also thankful for the leadership of County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. She is leading and guiding our great county through the historically challenging issues of COVID-19 and now the movement for greater criminal justice and economic justice reform for black and brown communities. I look forward to the national search that she is commencing for our permanent police chief and the independent third party review she is planning to conduct for our police department. It is my hope and expectation that both processes will involve strong representation from our constituents, faith and civic activists, and law enforcement partners.
The moment that we are in calls for a broader discussion than simply police reform. Addressing the barriers to equity and opportunity for black-owned businesses, returning citizens, under-funded schools, unemployed and under-employed residents, and families trapped in generational poverty are front and center for our nation and are inextricably linked to addressing the issues of criminal justice reform. Too few economic opportunities, even in our county, are accessible to businesses and residents of color. I look forward to working with like-minded leaders, civic activists, and community stakeholders towards achieving an agenda of greater equity and opportunity for communities that have historically been left behind.”
“As we celebrate Juneteenth, the real challenges and obstacles for African-Americans today are a reminder that the generational vestiges of slavery are still with us and require everyone, of all backgrounds and races, to continue the hard and often uncomfortable work of building a more perfect union for all Americans, especially the descendants of slavery.”
