The City of Erie is taking a new approach to improve public safety and build trust between the community and law enforcement.

This month, the city announced it’s re-launching its “Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships Council (SPCP)” in an effort to promote open dialogue in the community.

“It’s something that had been started, had kind of fallen off, and it was really an initiative that we wanted to bring back and reboot. So, we’re putting together really a table. It’s a table for members of the community and law enforcement to sit together to talk about the issues in the community and to talk about ways to continue to build trust,” said Daria Devlin, City of Erie Mayor.

Devlin said the idea is for the council to meet quarterly at the least but also be able to come together if something needs addressed in the community.

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The council itself will consist of 20 members – ten representing law enforcement and ten representing the community.

The city is looking to fill those positions to best represent the public, designating seats for Latino, immigrant and LGBTQ+ leaders, as well as black community leaders.

But one city resident said black representation was initially left off of the council composition, which was later clarified.

“The first status that they made about this, African Americans were left off of it,” said Deonte Cooley, City of Erie resident. “I’m not opposed to the SPCP, I think it’s a great thing because we need to have these relationships within our community, but it’s more or less like, if we as black people are allowed to be there, then say that.”

“In our minds, this was always going to be a fully representative council. We needed to say that explicitly. We heard that language back, and we have added that language. It was always the intent. We did not make that clear. We hear and receive that feedback, and now we want to move forward absolutely making sure it’s fully representative,” said Devlin.

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Devlin said the council is just a start, and in the future, they hope more initiatives about community policing can come out of their conversations.

Cooley said he believes the black community is the most impacted by a lack of conversation with police and wants the council to address that.

“There are adults in the community who don’t know officers or who are intimidated by officers or who are afraid of officers, and it’s like, if we can have some type of interactions with you prior to when we call and need help, or prior to you riding around in an intimidating vehicle, then we can build and establish better relationships,” said Cooley.

Devlin said they have three community member seats open for anyone to apply and more information about the council can be found here.

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