For Immediate Release: 6/17/2015 1:14 pm
Worcester, MA (June 17, 2015) - Mayor Joseph Petty, City Manager Edward Augustus, Police Chief Gary Gemme and local religious leaders announced today that a newly-reconstituted Worcester Clergy Police Community Partnership will begin holding monthly meetings later in June in order to create and maintain an open dialogue between the police and leaders of Worcester's diverse faith groups.
This partnership will meet monthly at venues across the City to build mutually beneficial relationships between clergy, faith organizations and the police; and to serve as a catalyst for community healing both for participants in criminal matters and for the community as a whole who suffer the ill effects of violence taking place in their neighborhoods.
The group's first meeting will be later this month. Its first task will be to discuss a report on strategic actions to address youth violence being developed by a group of community organizations in collaboration with Mayor Petty and City Manager Augustus. That report will be unveiled publicly during a press conference at 4:00 PM June 24th at City Hall.
The partnership will be made up of members of the Police Department's command staff, a designated liaison police officer or official and a diverse group of voluntary clergy and religious members whom represent an array of different faiths and religious traditions present within the City of Worcester.
Chief Gemme said, "Our alliance with local clergy is an opportunity for the Police Department to continue to build relationships with members of the diverse Worcester community. We look forward to a collaborative partnership that seeks to develop solutions to the challenges we face as a community. I appreciate the efforts of all who are involved in reenergizing this long standing relationship."
Rev. Jose Encarnacion of Christian Community Church, Rev. Esau Vance of Mt. Olive Pentacostal Church and Rev. Aaron Payson of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester will act as an executive committee. Rev. Encarnacion, Rev. Vance and WPD Deputy Chief Ed McGinn will act as co-chairs of the partnership. The alliance will be open to professional religious leaders in the City who agree to attend the Worcester Police Department's Clergy/Civilian Police Academy.
The clergy's executive committee said, "As Clergy leaders we have more than just a spiritual responsibility with our communities we also have a social responsibility towards justice with our communities. We are committed to working together in this partnership with the Worcester Police Department and very much committed to hearing as well as representing the many voices of our city's neighborhoods and diverse communities as we all seek to build trust and improve police and community relations in our city."
Mayor Petty said, "Tackling youth violence is a priority for both the City Manager and me. The only solution is one that engages the community and works cooperatively with the Worcester Police Department. The leaders of our faith-based organizations are key to implementing any effective strategy to address this issue."
This announcement fulfills one of the key steps put forward by City Manager Augustus in a April 28th report to the City Council, laying out strategies for promoting a more diverse and inclusive city government.
"This partnership will be a key tool for the Police Department to build relationships with a diverse set of communities throughout our city," City Manager Augustus said. "I applaud Chief Gemme and the clergy for stepping up to the plate and reinstating this vital collaboration."
