KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN CONFRONTED BY THE POLICE

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN CONFRONTED BY THE POLICE
by the Rev. Floyd Harris

On December 13 at Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene in southwest Fresno, thirty residents came to the workshop "Know Your Rights When Confronted by a Police Officer.” The National Action Network, CCCJC, El Comite No Vamos have led the charge in bringing accountability to the Fresno Police Department. Gloria Hernandez explained to the group that you have six months to file a claim against the Fresno Police Department if you feel that your civil rights have been violated.

The Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr., former chairperson of the Southwest Fresno Neighborhood Watch, is now the California State president of the National Action Network under the leadership of the Rev. Al Sharpton. Harris says that he had a situation with a Fresno police officer in his community. Harris asked a police officer to write down his badge number, down and the officer refused to do so. The officers didn't even ask if any help was needed; and then they called for police backup. Harris then went to the southwest Fresno police station to tell them what happened. Ellie Bluestein accompanied Harris to the police station, and the officer wouldn't let Bluestein in the room because he said this was a personnel matter.

At a meeting the following Saturday, Harris asked Lieutenant Callahan (Commander, Internal Affairs Unit): “Is there any department policy that the person filing the complaint can't take someone with him or her in the oral interview?” Callahan replied that there is no such policy. Harris was misled by the southwest Fresno police, and others are being misled. This is why the community workshops are so important: they educate the public on police procedures and accountability.