Richmond, California Police Chief Chris Magnus is proof that there are some very good cops out there.
Richmond, California leads the progressive way again.
Remember Richmond, one of the few bright spots in last month's election? Where a slate of progressive candidates beat the group backed by Chevron, the largest business in town, despite a campaign funding difference of $3,000,000 to $60,000?
Well, some of the discussion here afterwards talked about what is happening now in this blue-collar town formerly known for crime, violence and pollution.
Crime is down to about 1/4 of what it was just a few years ago. There hasn't been a deadly police action in quite a while (I'd look up the statistics, but it's late and I have to work tomorrow). A lot of credit has to go to new Chief Chris Magnus and his use of community policing to build communities rather than beat them up.
When a protest was organized here on December 8 to stand up against police violence some people prepared for the worst.Nearby Berkeley and Oakland have had more publicity for breaking windows and setting fires than for peaceful civil disobedience.
So what does a good Police Chief do? Stands with the protesters and speaks out against police violence too!