The City of Erie is taking a new approach to improve public safety and build trust between the community and law enforcement.<\/p>\n
This month, the city announced it\u2019s re-launching its \u201cStrengthening Police and Community Partnerships Council (SPCP)\u201d in an effort to promote open dialogue in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019re putting together really a table. It\u2019s 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,\u201d said Daria Devlin, City of Erie Mayor.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Community demands answers for Marchello Woodard at Erie City Council meeting\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n The council itself will consist of 20 members \u2013 ten representing law enforcement and ten representing the community.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n But one city resident said black representation was initially left off of the council composition, which was later clarified<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first status that they made about this, African Americans were left off of it,\u201d said Deonte Cooley, City of Erie resident. \u201cI\u2019m not opposed to the SPCP, I think it\u2019s a great thing because we need to have these relationships within our community, but it\u2019s more or less like, if we as black people are allowed to be there, then say that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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\u2019s fully representative,\u201d said Devlin.<\/p>\n \u00a0Mayor Devlin discusses path to stronger city workforce\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are adults in the community who don\u2019t know officers or who are intimidated by officers or who are afraid of officers, and it\u2019s 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,\u201d said Cooley.<\/p>\n Devlin said they have three community member seats open for anyone to apply and more information about the council can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n