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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Community Forum to Unite on Wednesday afternoon at the Bladen Community College auditorium. The well attended event drew a crowd of about 175 folks.
Charlotte Smith of Bladen Online said, “I think it was a positive start to opening a dialogue here in Bladen County.”
Representatives from local law enforcement, Bladen County elected officials, Bladen Community College, the Bladen County District Attorney’s office, Bladen Online team and community members and local pastors all came together Wednesday for the forum.
Bladen County Assistant District Attorney Quintin McGee said that everyone was present to dispel misconceptions that are present in our communities and to educate one another.
District Attorney Jon David said, “Today we are one Bladen County. We seek justice, we seek safety, and we seek fairness.”
Members of law enforcement spoke and addressed what life is like for their families, what they experience on the job, and what they are thinking when they respond to a call.
Bladenboro Police Chief Chris Hunt spoke on the topic of the Humanity of Law Enforcement. He spoke about how early in his career, his wife would cry after he left to go to work because of the nature of his job. He spoke about how his job impacted his children as they grew up.
Elizabethtown Police Chief Tony Parrish spoke about how to file a complaint or commendation regarding an interaction with an officer and North Carolina’s newly adopted body camera legislation.
There was also a time for questions and answers. A panel made up of members of law enforcement, the District Attorney’s office, Bladen County Schools, and elected officials fielded questions from the audience.
Some audience members said they were satisfied with the answers they were given to the questions they asked.
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