I have been living in Greenfield for close to five years and adore the home we have made here. I have been a volunteer member of the Public Safety Commission since last August.
I am alarmed by the unintended consequences of the sudden police budget cut made by the Greenfield City Council last month. It appears this action was made to address embedded racism; however, I do not understand how this decision provided constructive movement forward. I believe the decision to be uniformed, reactive and punishing.
I have a strong sense this decision significantly compromises our public safety. The beauty of our hills, farms, and rivers, do not make us immune from reality. Overdose death rates have tripled in Franklin County. Environmental troubles could easily cause a devastating tornado. If our part of the national electrical grid goes down, it would create havoc for all of us, and be deadly for some. Our population is aging and many of our elders do not have financial resources and social support networks. This past week, there was a threat of gun violence in one of our schools. Each of these scenarios would require a robust and skilled response from all of our emergency personnel: police, fire and EMS/AMR. This is called realistic, risk management planning.
At the same time, we need to take responsibility for our part in perpetuating structural racism. When I was director of a methadone clinic, I hired an African American male. Within months of moving here, he was called a racial slur in the Big Y parking lot. Not by a police officer, but by an older, white male. Four months later, it happened again outside the clinic where we worked. This time by a young, white male. I felt horrified at the level of overt racism present. I was grateful we did not raise our daughter here, as she also has dark skin.
I suggest we adopt an attitude of “Greenfield Reform” that includes Police Reform. I implore the City Council to enact a supplemental budget restoring the police budget cut. And I encourage the City Council members and the public to join us as at the Public Safety Commission July meeting as we begin reviewing Police Reform Law #2963 over the next six months.
I have confidence in the leadership of both Mayor Wedegartner and Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. I remain steadfast in my support and admire the courage, perseverance and commitment by which the mayor is leading us through this crisis in our city.
Chief Haigh is a highly intelligent and skilled police chief who has made some mistakes but does not deserve to be vilified to ease the rage of others or to atone for the sins of a nation. There is more to the legal case than is evident to all of us who do not have access to all the facts. We all need to be accountable and to choose to find solutions and not blame. My heart goes out to the police officers at risk of losing their livelihoods due to the unconsidered actions of others. You and your families have been unjustly harmed by this process.
Susan White is a Greenfield resident and member of the Public Safety Commission.