The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers and the Ethical Society of Police are united in our call for the St. Louis County Council to vote tonight to declare it has no confidence in St. Louis County Police Department Chief Mary Barton.
“Chief Barton has shown her willingness and specific desires to discriminate against any Black officer who speaks out against the racially divisive atmosphere that she has allowed to grow and permeate her agency and as such deserves no trust or confidence from those she has been hired to lead,” stated Lieut. Charles P. Wilson, National Chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc.
ESOP released the following statement on Friday following the press conference announcing the ESOP’ Board’s No-Confidence Vote in Chief Barton: LINK
THERE CAN BE NO CONFIDENCE IN A LEADER WHO ONLY SEEKS RETRIBUTION
National Black Law Enforcement Group Stands By Members of The Ethical Society of Police In St. Louis County
With the recent arbitrary reassignment of Officer Shanette Hall of the St. Louis County Police Department, a total of three (3) members of the executive staff of the Ethical Society of Police, an organization dedicated to addressing racial discrimination and bias in both the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department, have fallen prey to the retaliatory whims of Colonel Mary Barton, Chief of Police in St. Louis County Police Department.
This now makes four (4) members of the Ethical Society of Police who have suffered retaliatory action or have filed litigation against Chief Barton and her agency. Consequently, one must now wonder about the attitude and perception that agency administrators, command and supervisory staff have towards the citizens of color whom they have allegedly sworn to “Protect and Serve,” as they seem to have little or no positive attitudes or perceptions of the officers of color whom they employ.
Chief Barton’s blatant statement that “There is no systemic racism within the department” must be recognized for the falsehood that it most certainly is, particularly in light of the recently released Teneo Risk Advisory Report which determined the existence of a serious racial divide within the agency.
“Chief Barton has shown her willingness and specific desires to discriminate against any Black officer who speaks out against the racially divisive atmosphere that she has allowed to grow and permeate her agency and as such deserves no trust or confidence from those she has been hired to lead,” stated Lieut. Charles P. Wilson, National Chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc.
As a chapter member of NABLEO, we support and stand in solidarity with Officer Shanette Hall and others from the Ethical Society of Police in their vote of “No Confidence” of the administration and leadership of Chief Mary Barton of the St. Louis County Police Department. When the leadership of an agency shows a total and complete lack of administrative action, a continuing failure to adequately address issues specific to Black members of the Department and community, resulting in rampant episodes of racism throughout the agency, it is clear that there is an obvious level of administrative retaliation and indifference to resolving a known racially biased atmosphere.
ABOUT NABLEO
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc, a 501.(c).(3) non-profit, is a premier national organization representing the interests and concerns of African American, Latino and other criminal justice practitioners of color serving in law enforcement, corrections and investigative agencies throughout the United States, and the communities in which they serve. For more information, visit https://nableo.org
ABOUT ESOP
The Ethical Society of Police (ESOP) is an association of police officers, park rangers, and civilians that advocates for racial and gender equity in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and St. Louis County Police Department. ESOP was founded in 1972 to address racial biases within law enforcement. ESOP also works to improve community/police relations, develop policies and programs to reduce crime, elevate the status of minority civilians and police officers, encourage greater minority employment by law enforcement agencies, and increase professionalism in law enforcement. Membership is open to all races and includes more than 370 law enforcement professionals employed by the City and County of St. Louis. ESOP membership is approximately 97% African American, but membership is open to all races, religions and sexual orientations. For details, call (314) 690-3565, email [email protected] or visit www.esopstl.org.
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Rachel Brown
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