Church Leaders & Cops Explore Post-Cox Policing

Laura Glesby Photo

Religious and secular leaders gather for dialogue with police brass.

Fifty Black pastors and community activists filled the pews of First Calvary Baptist Church on Monday evening, offering visions for a new era of public safety to city leaders and one another.

Rev. Boise Kimber convened the group for a conversation on both police brutality and gun violence in the wake of Randy Cox’s paralysis in the back of a seatbelt-less New Haven police vehicle, an injury that the police officers who arrested Cox initially dismissed.

Kimber invited Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett and Police Chief Tim Wydra, New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson, New Haven’s State’s Attorney John Doyle, and Yale Police Captain Von Narcisse to address the audience and answer questions.

What happened to Richard Randy’ Cox was wrong,” said Jacobson. Officers will not treat people in this city like that. … Right now, I don’t blame you for not trusting us. We’re gonna do everything possible to gain your trust back.”

We have issues with what the community wants to see and what the police put out there in terms of transparency,” said Garrett. I want to be a part of the solution.”

Various church leaders called for culturally competent” policing that prioritizes dignity and respect,” as Pastor Kelcy Steele of Varick Church phrased it.

John Doyle: aiming to be "more open."

Several attendees confronted Doyle and Jacobson about their own experiences with the criminal justice system — including Gaylord Salters, who spent over two decades in prison for an assault he says he never committed. Since leaving prison in late June, Salters has been advocating for greater transparency in wrongful-conviction cases.

I want you to have an understanding that there are plenty of wrongfully convicted people from New Haven,” Salters said. 

What are you planning to do about those cases, and how will you hold detectives and prosecutors found guilty of misconduct accountable? he asked Doyle.

Doyle said his office will meet with defense attorneys and advocates who have evidence of a wrongful conviction. We’re trying to be more open, more transparent,” he said.

Doyle, who became New Haven’s lead prosecutor in late June, also sketched out his planned approach to addressing gun violence. It’s a small amount of individuals causing 90 percent of the problems,” Doyle said. He stated a goal of concentrat[ing] on the violent people” and separat[ing] out those types of people that need new ideas, new support.”

Rev. Robert Smith of Mt. Calvary Deliverance Church pointed out the role of poverty in contributing to gun violence. He cited a 2019 DataHaven report demonstrating that the median income in Newhallville was $33,113 at the time, compared to a statewide median of $73,781. It’s important to understand who you are policing,” he said.

Kennedy Hampton Sr.: What about other incidents?

Pastor Kennedy Hampton Sr. of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church wondered aloud about the number of incidents of brutality that were not captured on camera. 

He argued that in addition to Monday’s conversation among Black leaders, white folk need to come together and talk about what’s happening in that community.”

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