This article by Jim Therrien originally appeared Sept. 10 in the Bennington Banner.
BENNINGTON — Consultants hired to review Bennington Police Department policies and procedures — especially concerning relationships with the community — provided an overview of the four-month study process and their expected concluding report.
Former state representative Kiah Morris
The study had been suggested in the wake of former Rep. Kiah Morris’ decision last year to end her re-election campaign, when she and others were critical of the department for not making any arrests concerning her complaints of racially motivated harassment and threats.
A four-person team from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which was hired in August by the Select Board, will oversee the review and assessment process.
Read full article at the Bennington Banner.
(Fair use with written permission from the New England Newspapers Inc.)
BPD is not racist. Benningtonians can blame delusional race-baiter Kiah Morris for this sixty colossal waste of time, energy and resources that will cost sixty six thousand dollars. Kiah and her husband can’t move to Brattleboro fast enough. It’s just a matter of time before Kiah and her husband accuses everyone in Brattleboro of being racists.
Here we go once again.
Not once in the entire article was mentioned the First Amendment rights issue of the right to expression of ideas and opinions. While I’m sure the idea of discrimination based solely on skin melanin content is repugnant to reasonable people, the postures in the photo indicate a chip on the shoulder attitude.
The coverage of the events of 2016 and 2018 was sensational at best and slanted at worst. This re-hash of events with secret testimonies will serve only to stir the pot and bring it up to a simmer if not a boil, coinciding with the universal race /entitlements card being played in national elections.
And once again attention will be diverted from the far more important issues facing us in Vermont.