Panel debates racial makeup

Currently 7 Responses

1.
I don't know who Wayne socializes with, but I have no friends with a criminal record. If criminal "street cred" is important in order to act in an advisory capacity, I'd want to choose the criminal who didn't get caught. So, Wayne, go for it. And while you're at, make sure some European Americans get selected to the advisory panel.
Milan Adrian
Wed 8th Sep 2010
at 7:23pm

3.
Oh, my! We need "experience" with the police to advise the police? Then let the panel all be cops or retired cops!
Pete Theisen
Mon 6th Sep 2010
at 12:02am

4.
For the record, panel consultants (technical advisors) are not paid for their contributions of time. Furthermore, no one at the PAP meeting suggested that an un-rehabilitated convicted felon be made eligable to serve on the panel. The consideration was made though by me, that if a person has paid their debt to society and has had had their rights re-established under law, then that person should not be excluded from the panel solely because of their crimninal justice experience.

There are many folks of good character living in Sarasota who have at one time or another made mistakes that led to convictions for misdemeanor crimes such as criminal trespass, or possesing out of season wildlife. There are also times when innocent folks are wrongly convicted of crimes because of mistakes by prosecutors. Let's be objective. Would it be ethical or practical to bar them from engaging in the important civic responsibility that we all share, of holding governments accountable for how well they spend our tax dollars? Consider civilian review panels to be an asset that ensures transparency and accountability in the services that governments provide such as garbage pick up and sewer. Since we must pay our taxes, don't you think we should be getting our money's worth from every department?

Wayne Genthner
wayne genthner
Fri 3rd Sep 2010
at 6:23pm

5.
For the record, panel consultants (technical advisors) are not paid for their contributions of time. Furthermore, no one at the PAP meeting suggested that an un-rehabilitated convicted felon be made eligable to serve on the panel. The consideration was made though by me, that if a person has paid their debt to society and has had had their rights re-established under law, then that person should not be excluded from the panel solely because of their crimninal justice experience.

There are many folks of good character living in Sarasota who have at one time or another made mistakes that led to convictions for misdemeanor crimes such as criminal trespass, or possesing out of season wildlife. There are also times when innocent folks are wrongly convicted of crimes because of mistakes by prosecutors. Let's be objective. Would it be ethical or practical to bar them from engaging in the important civic responsibility that we all share, of holding governments accountable for how well they spend our tax dollars? Consider civilian review panels to be an asset that ensures transparency and accountability in the services that governments provide such as garbage pick up and sewer. Since we must pay our taxes, don't you think we should be getting our money's worth from every department?

Wayne Genthner
wayne genthner
Fri 3rd Sep 2010
at 6:15pm

6.
It is racist to see a persons skin color for eligibility to be on a panel or to do anything. Indians, hispanics and combinations of all races are arrested sometime or another. How about only having a black police force?
Judy Hummer
Fri 3rd Sep 2010
at 3:24pm

7.
This Unnever guy is a joke--and a racist. Let's hear it for giving advice to the police from convicted felons!!! And they pay this idiot to be on an advisory panel? I want that job!
Milan Adrian
Fri 3rd Sep 2010
at 12:56pm