AMHERST — Residents are being invited to provide input to a town working group on their experiences with the Amherst Police Department and interactions with other public safety services in town.
The Community Safety Working Group, which is charged with examining how public safety is delivered in Amherst and ensuring that racial equity is a focus for police, is holding two online community forums this week.
The first is scheduled for Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and the second Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m.
“Every voice matters as we strive to make effective suggestions to reform safety services to ensure racial equity and community safety in Amherst,” reads the flyer advertising the event.
The working group this month is supposed to deliver to Town Manager Paul Bockelman a written report outlining alternative options to the public safety services currently provided by Amherst police, with a second written report on recommendations for resident oversight and for policy reforms for the department by June 30.
But Bockelman said it is likely the initial report will be delayed due to the late start the working group got in the fall and the extensive work it is doing.
Recommendations from the working group are expected to be incorporated into the municipal budget preparation for fiscal year 2022, which begins July 1. The town has also intentionally left two police department vacancies unfilled as the working group proceeds.
People can sign up for the forums by contacting staff liaison Jennifer Moyston at moystonj@amherstma.gov or 259-3002.
Input in writing also can be sent to Moyston or people can complete an online questionnaire at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5GVJ325.
Among the 15 questions residents can answer include “What do you believe it will take to build trust and confidence among Black and Brown people in Amherst that they are being provided equal protection and treatment by the Amherst Police Department? and “What, if any, situations currently being addressed by the police do you believe could be more effectively or appropriately dealt with through non-threatening, alternative public safety services?”
Responses can be submitted anonymously.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
