The Galesburg City Council approved a resolution Tuesday night that recommits the city’s police department to bridge the gap of mistrust between police and communities of color.
Galesburg NAACP President Brittany Grimes calls the Council’s adoption of the principles an “amazing step” in the right direction.
Chief Russ Idle and Grimes shook hands on Tuesday night and praised the document aimed at growing trust between police and people of color.
They are the same principles the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois NAACP agreed upon in 2018.
Idle says it’s his department’s job to do everything they can to enhance the quality of life for all residents, but says that’s not something they can do alone.
Idle says that there are historical reasons that people of color may not trust the police but that’s something that can only be improved with cooperation.
“Oftentimes I hear police executives make the mistakes of throwing a bunch of statistics at people and saying that things aren’t true because of this statistic or this reason. You’re not convincing anyone doing that. If you want to convince people that they can trust you then listen to them.”
Idle says a critical mission of the GPD is to enhance the quality of life for all residents, but he understands some historical reasons why there’s been a lack of trust from some groups.
Idle says he doesn’t have all the answers.
“I think it’s important for us to stand together in partnership like we are today to do this. I am very happy to stand here and state that my police department does and will support these foundational principals and we will be putting them into practice.”
Chief Idle signed and dated two poster board sized copies of the 10 Principles, one of which he gave to Grimes.
Idle says the other will go up in the lobby of the Galesburg Public Safety Building.
