You guys came out today.
Why do you think holding these
kind of press conferences reacting
to you know statements for major
battle statements from Mark Murray?
What why do you think it's important to
come out here and make your voice is
well for me. I've received so many
different emails and calls asking about
this while I was in Montgomery last week
and asking about this situation and I
had not read up on it because we were in
the throes of the legislative session.
And so when I read the statements I said
that you know there there must have been.
They must have been taken out of context.
There's no way.
That that we would undermine our
justice system because you know,
the the very individuals that supposed
to enforce the laws are now questioning
our justice system and saying that they
got it wrong and that really concerns me.
It also puts you know our judicial system
in our prosecutors in our city at odds.
And that's not something that
we need as a community.
And then when we're as we're trying to
promote growth and opportunity in our
community, when you Google Huntsville,
is that what you want to see is that?
Possible didn't make the right decision.
A smart city not making smart decisions
when it comes to when there is a
need to make changes in leadership.
You know,
I applaud Chief Mick Murray for
the service that he shown our
community up until this point,
but I just think that this really,
you know,
I think that internally you'll see
even at the Police Department we
shouldn't put our men and women in
uniform at odds with the Community,
and we shouldn't be doubling down no matter.
And and not recognize the verdict that
actually the conviction that happened.
And so I think that we put,
we're putting our men and women
in uniform at risk as well.
And so I just I'm a little
bit concerned about that.
And what type of culture is
creating in our community?
And I just I just think that you know,
while in other places things have
happened across the country.
I never, you know,
in our community you never think about
your community and I think now you
know it's it's time for us to say OK,
would it where we want to go?
And how does this impact our?
Our community.
How does it impact as long term
economically and in in how do
we you know we're fighting an
image problem as a state,
but as a community we've always
prided ourselves on being a very
smart city and inclusive city.
But these we cannot let issues
isolated issues like this impact
our long term growth and success
without. Why do you think it's
important to focus on mental health?
Please help. You are long and we're doing
more in the legislature. Thanks for.
Representative Majority Leader
Ledbetter's been leading the effort
in the House for Mental health,
and so he's been every year
we're last couple of years.
We've been focusing on putting
more investments in mental health.
I do think that we got to put
more resources and our law with
our law enforcement to help some
of our officers get more in
depth training in mental health.
But also we got to make certain
that are the salaries are appealing,
you know, a police officer,
an officer that's protecting and
serving as they're putting their
lives on the line each and every
day shouldn't have to get a second
job in order to make ends meet.
And so we have as a state we have to
do a better job of making certain
that we're making investments.
And then we're focusing on
the preventative side.
How do we bridge the gap between
community and law enforcement?
You know,
this is just an unfortunate situation
to where you know this is not.
But when I'm receiving all
these calls from constituents,
and whenever I go out, you know,
went out to eat last couple
of days in the community.
And folks are person after person,
and so you know, as a leader,
you gotta step up.
Even in times where it may be very difficult.
And this is just an unusual
circumstance for me.
I typically focus my attention on
growth and really promoting the
community in the state as well,
and so having to deal with this.
But I'm going to deal with issues
that are distracting that are
impacting our community, right?
And so in in French,
I'm really close friends with the mayor.
I mean, I think the world level.
I think that there's no one in
this state that have done more
for a city then mayor battle,
but I was happy to see him
amend his statement.
I think that that was that takes
courage and that takes leadership,
but I've yet to hear anything from the chief,
and in fact, as Mr Persons mentioned,
you know, I'm just really.
I've been disappointed since
the June 3rd situation,
and then we're now reliving another,
uh, another incident to where you know,
we just gotta do better and we got
to understand where we are as a
community and how this impacts our community.
I want our community to be inclusive.
I think that there are some wonderful
officers on our police force.
I think that hands down there's
no one that provides the quality
of training that Dwayne Carter.
Right, and I think that you know,
you know we may disagree on certain things,
but you know he's always been
someone that I think has been is
is doing a heckuva job with the
training program and to but it
starts at the top the very top,
and so we just gotta.
We gotta support guys
like him and I don't want
anyone to paint a broad brush of all
police officers because of what but
they do the leadership kind of sets
the tone and so we just got to make
certain that we set a different tone.
That's more inclusive.
And that's more inclusive of all,
but still protecting in.
And in protecting and upholding
the law at the same time.
And so there is a balance that can be struck.
Thank you for that answer.
Anything else you want to say about this?
Or, well, I think that as
a community we're going to have to
move forward in healing an I don't,
you know, for me I'd like to
see our law enforcement in our
community work together more,
but I also don't want to see our
law enforcement put in harm's way
on something that in being painted
with a broad brush because there
are some really good officers.
Very competent officers and very
competent people that work in the
Department and some that have left
the Department that really understand
the issues very well that we should
be pulling to help us move forward.