With the recent rioting events taking place in Baltimore, in which 113 police officers were injured and 46 people were arrested, a couple of law enforcement agencies were asked if should a similar incident should potentially occur, then how would their agency respond.
Milton Police Chief Greg Brand believes such an incident is highly unlikely to occur, due to the department’s relationship with the community.
“We really don’t have that kind of environment here,” Brand said.
Brand said it is goal of a police department to address a concern before the issue quickly deteriorates to the point of rioting.
As an example, Brand said he or any of the department’s officers would reach out to community leaders in order to address a situation of high tension.
In addition, Brand expects his force – consisting of 20 full time police officers and one part time – to fulfill their duties without bias or favoritism.
Brand said the community is welcomed to contact him on any police department matter, whether good or bad.
“If I get a letter commending an officer, I will personally write back thanking them,” He said.
On the opposite end, should Brand receive a complaint from a citizen, Brand said his department would investigate the incident and notify the citizen what the investigation revealed.
As for dealing with a riot, Brand said the department does not have the funds in order purchase any protective riot gear.
Should an event get out of hand, Brand said his unit would then reach out to the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office for assistance.
Rich Aloy, the public information officer of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, said the county would respond to any situation as they see fit, stating they have a policy in place should a riot incident occur. However, like Brand, Aloy believes their department has a “strong bond with the community.”
Aloy gave an example of how the community responds in a time of crisis when they showed their support in asking how they could help when seven military airmen perished in a helicopter training exercise into the Santa Rosa Sound.
“When the black hawk helicopter went down, the community came out in droves,” Aloy said.
Aloy said there is many ways the sheriff’s office expresses their community involvement with their affiliation with the Santa Rosa Kid’s House, supporting the local United Way organization and the children’s hospital in Pensacola.
Aloy said the public’s support is always appreciated during the SRSO’s annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service in which the department will honor all law enforcement who gave their lives in the line of duty. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 on the front lawn of SRSO’s administration building.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Are we prepared for civil unrest?