An open letter to Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr.
The last paragraph of the article in Saturday’s Recorder quoting you begs a response:
“I’m sorry this has come to my department and the people who work for me … I’m exceptionally proud to be chief of this department and the people who are working hard every single day … This is not what the Greenfield Police stands for and I hope they know that. And I hope the community knows that.”
First, this is not something that “came” to your department. You and your department, by your own actions, violated Patrick Buchanan’s civil rights. And have been found guilty by a jury for doing so. No, Chief Haigh, this did not “come to you.”
You say, “this is not what the police department stands for…..And I hope the community knows that.” No Chief Haigh, we do not know that. I think there are vast swaths of our community who think otherwise. Did you forget five years ago, reading in this paper about the confederate flag hanging in Sgt. Daniel McCarthy’s garage frightening an African American child?
Your department may work hard, and you may be proud of them, but they are underserving vulnerable people. Your department did nothing to investigate when a young friend of mine was being stalked. I brought her to the station thinking she would get some help, or even a returned phone call.
Chief Haigh, your words said all the right things, but, sadly they are not the truth.
Rather than bemoan your loss in a court of law; examine your own white privilege; have your staff do the same; acknowledge the unconscious biases you and your staff bring from home. This would go a long way in community relations.
If I were African American, I would be afraid of being stopped in this town. If a young women is being stalked, she can’t depend upon the Greenfield Police Department to protect her.
Debbie Kates
Greenfield