Office of the Mayor Salvatore J.I Panto,Jr. Mayor  City Hall, Cityo of Easton 123 South Third Street Easton, Pennsylvania 18042  Email: pantoleaston-pa.gov Telephone: 610-250-6610 Fax: 610-250-6736  Statement of Easton Mayor Sal Panto to Easton City Council - June 10, 2020  During the last few weeks, our City Administration has been extremely busy. First COVID pandemic; then our Business Recovery Plan to re-open our economy; then a Haz Mat situation and more. But the toughest issue that we are need to resolve, once and for all, is this country' 's issue of systemic racism; not just because oft the murder of George Floyd but because oft the light it has shown once again on the generational impacts of While we are witnessing, sharing, and experiencing more pain than any time I can remember, and I grew up in the 60's, there is also reason for hope. People are rising in cities across our nation to speak out, to protest and to We need to build community, peacefully protesting, and calling for an end to police violence - where it exists Iam grateful for all those who peacefully marched and protested in Easton. By the thousands, wel have seen people march most of which were peaceful. But as we all know, words hurt too and some oft the rhetoric against our police and the remarks and hand gestures were totally uncalled for against our department. Our police showed true professionalism as they were taunted to react by individuals. The rally leaders did nothing This has been an incredibly painful two weeks for our country. One that is shining the light on hundreds of years of racism and injustice that has haunted our past and continues to our present. Iti is time to eradicate it from our future. Itis a moment that summons all of us - including me - to do more and to do better. While painful, because the trauma and impacts of systemic racism are both immediate and generations deep -I Ibelieve we truly can as one person said to me, build true, lasting generational justice and change. We need to bring the same intensity and make the same commitment to cure the illness of racism that we have While officers have been working under difficult conditions, de-escalation should be the number one priority and our Easton officers have been trained in de-escalation. De-escalation is critical in every interaction officers Iwant to be clear with you- asIhave with the Chief- what my expectations are for the police department. We made a lot of progress over the last 13 years. But we must work toward continuous improvement to ensure  systemic racism.  demand change.  --and the systemic structures that perpetuate it.  to stop the unpeaceful rhetoric.  have deeply appreciated those conversations and their willingness tol have them.  brought to stopping the spread of COVID-19.  have - from individual actions to crowd management.  justice and equity for all of our residents.    These aren'tjust my expectations; they are the expectations of our community and, frankly, the expectations and core values that are embedded in EPD's policies and officers" training. Most importantly, Iknow they are The Department of Justice investigated the Easton PD. just before It took office in 2008. This investigation was because oft the unconstitutional use ofexcessive force. As Mayor, it is now: my. job to make sure that we stay committed to the policies and procedures that we. have in place and to the Accreditation Certification that we Cultural reform is what is most enduring, and wel have built on that reform not only having the policies in place, but also having the fortitude to enforce those policies with discipline, including termination. We have an opportunity to build on the lasting systemic changes that can transform policing and the department. The new. Easton PD: has shown itself tol be a department that leads with de-escalation and does not Wel have accountability systems that work and have proven effective; most recently we won: a court appeal ofa  also the core values of Chief Scalzo.  received.  use force unless it is necessary. former police officer.  Ialso must be held accountable, and I must hold Chief Scalzo and the Department accountable. Iknow that not every decision I make is always the right one, sO my actions should be scrutinized also. The actions both Chief Scalzo, me and our local elected officials have taken are always for the interest oft the Iknow that safety was shattered for many by images, sounds and gas more fitting ofa war zone; but that was not here in Easton. Our city did not look like a military zone. Officers were dressed in their normal uniforms, not riot gear. But they also have toi respond to the reality on the ground tol keep the officers and public safe; our To all those who came peacefully and exercised their constitutional right toj protest you are welcomed in our To the actions of the handful ofindividuals seemingly intent on inciting violence between police and a small number of demonstrators with their signs, rhetoric and gestures - we will not allow you to discredit the law- We are listening to the members of our community who have taken to the streets to call for a better city and a better country. Ibelieve our record proves this to be the case: not only of the leadership but the entire police The help of those on the frontline to: maintain the peace is instrumental in ensuring everyone remains safe I ask that demonstration leaders speak to those who aren'to displaying the peaceful protest and are displaying unacceptable behavior - please hold those folks accountable. I want to thank NAACP President Lance  residents of] Easton - ALL oft the residents.  officers have the training to know that their jobi is to not escalate.  city and I support your cause to finally put an end to systemic racism in our society.  abiding citizens who are peacefully protesting and we won'tallow you to break the law.  department.  Wheeler for doing this on several occasions. are held be drowned out by a few.  Our shared goal is tol keep everyone safe and we also have an obligation not to let the message of why the rallies    But George Floyd's murder is not the only reason thousands of people are taking to the streets. People are protesting a culture ofs systemic racism and police actions that exists in this country. Those killings remind us of the profound injustice of how they were failed by the system. We must do more to eradicate systemic racism They are also protesting a culture of some that will use force before de-escalation, and they' re protesting a People are rightfully protesting how we can be better as a society and make real changes, so I want to talk about When recruiting officers for the civil service test more than 150 notices are sent to minority organizations and individuals in the region. This year the fire department also started an Academy at the Boys and Girls Club to The Easton Police Department has been for some time equipped with both body cameras and in-car cameras deployed during all citizen contacts. The policy of the Easton Police Department is that cameras are to be initiated during calls for service while engaging with the public and shall not be turned off until the incident is Training is an essential component of the success of any police agency. The Easton Police Department trains its officers every year on the issues of diversity both in the workplace and in dealing with the community. Some of  from our society.  culture that perpetuates systemic inequities that impact people of color.  what we have done in Easton.  get young adults interested in being a firefighter.  complete, and the officer is no longer engaged with those involved.  the training that every single Easton Police Officer received last year was:  Cultural Awareness; Anti-harassment in the workplace; Anti-bias training for law enforcement; De- escalation in minimizing the force; Ethics in law enforcement; Civil Rights; Arrest Search and Seizure;  Communication Skills  This training is just a sampling of the training our officers receive every single year and will continue to do SO in the future. In 2018 every officer attended a cultural competence training conducted by Intersect Alliance, which lead by instructor Guillermo Lopez. This instruction was conducted over the course of several months and consisted of several "ride-along" conversations, in-class training, and role-playing exercises. The Easton Police Department takes the responsibility of community relations extremely seriously and, the training efforts The Easton Police Department also trains yearly in defensive tactics, which focus specifically on the proper utilization of restraint procedures as well as control methods and equipment. Our officers are taught the appropriate way to utilize control methods to gain maximum compliance while minimizing pain or injury to resistors or assailants. Our policies have always included the one being talked about nationally like the The expectation of the Easton Police Department is that every single officer, with no exception, always treat every person with respect and professionalism at all times. Wel have worked hard to establish this reputation in the community and have done sO by holding those officers who fail to follow this lead accountable for their actions. Iam happy to report that the City of Easton Police Department is staffed by a group of professional, hard-working men and women with the combined purpose of serving their community with pride and honor and Iassure you that we are doing everything we can to make this department and this city an example of greatness.  reflect this fact.  chokehold, shooting at a moving vehicle, etc.  These advances alone still do not address the systemic barriers that pervade our society. housing and home ownership. And health. And education. And economic opportunity.  Our collective failure to address racism and inequality is not just in the area of policing in America. Itisin    True public safety means that everyone, regardless oft their background, has the opportunity to build a better life without fear for themselves and their loved ones and has access to the services they need --1 Healthcare. Itisr reflective of our deep problem that the governmental system has which needs the most reform is our criminal justice system. We need to change that. Reform is needed. Currently it is a system that creates Imake a point whenever speaking to other local elected officials - a city is not going to be able to establish fruitful relationships on the spot in ai moment of crisis. Iti is the relationships we established prior to any incident that were critical in helping us respond to the situation at hand and ability to truly work with the community. For mei iti is a lifetime of relationships that It treasure every day. Iamj proud of our relationship As a young boy who grew up on the south side in aj neighborhood that was racially, ethnically and socio- economically mixed Ihave difficulty and II have al hard time understanding how some can treat people  Affordable housing. Education. Jobs.  criminals rather than rehabilitates them.  with all segments of our community both personally and as Mayor.  differently just because of the their ethnicity or race.  Ip pledge to all is that Iwill continue to promote and encourage fairness and equality among all people and give our youth the type ofc community I grew up: in and ask that as they get older that they too work toward ending,  once and for all systemic racism.