Pubdate: Fri, 21 Feb 2003
Source: Town Talk, The  (Alexandria, LA)
Copyright: 2003sThe Town Talk
Contact:  http://www.thetowntalk.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1027
Author: Andrew Griffin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

HOBBS: BLAME 'BAD APPLE,' NOT BLACK COMMUNITY

Thursday's shootout on Wise Street shouldn't leave a stain on the black 
community there, City Councilman Everett Hobbs said.

The shootout left two Alexandria police officers dead and three others 
wounded. The assailant, who was killed, reportedly was a black man. His 
name has not been released. Some members of the predominantly black crowd 
that gathered to watch the excitement turned on police, calling the 
officers obscene names.

Some crowd members said police officers are unfair to the black community.

Hobbs said Thursday's incident is not racial. He represents District 2, 
which includes the area of the shootout.

Hobbs referred to the shooting of the officers as a terrible tragedy but 
still an "isolated incident."

"It's a dark cloud on the city, but I want to say that there are good 
people in South Alexandria," Hobbs said.

Asked if he thinks tensions are high between the black community and the 
city police department, as they were a few years ago, Hobbs downplayed that 
idea.

"It's not the black community against the police force. I simply think 
you've got some bad apples throughout the city and that what we saw today 
was a bad apple in that part of the city."

Hobbs said the APD Narcotics Division has been effective at addressing drug 
trafficking in neighborhoods throughout the city, including areas in his 
district. And while that has been positive, often the drug pushers will 
stay a step ahead and move to a new location, he said.

Hobbs believes drug trafficking somehow played a role in the shootout.

"If you ever watch drug trafficking, it moves from one area to another 
area. That may be the case here," Hobbs said. "Of course, it could happen 
anywhere in the city. This is just one bad apple in the bunch."

Hobbs said the city police force is losing a lot of officers to state and 
parish law enforcement agencies, and it's time to look at giving police 
officers a raise.

"We have to look at the city budget a little closer," Hobbs said.

The shootout on Wise Street began about noon Thursday. Hobbs said he first 
heard about the incident about 1 p.m., and he drove directly to the scene 
and began talking to residents, while remaining in close contact with City 
Council President Charles F. Smith Jr.

"The elderly people I talked to were concerned and scared. I was there to 
provide support for them and to support law enforcement," Hobbs "I commend 
(APD) for putting their lives on the line and for the other agencies out 
there for doing the same. They did a tremendous job."

On Wednesday morning, an officer in his patrol car was fired upon while on 
Overton Street. The assailant in that case is believed to also be the 
shooter in Thursday's incident.

Hobbs said he went to the Overton Street area on Wednesday and drove 
around. He talked to residents and witnessed police walking their beat and 
asking residents questions about the shooting.

"I thought they might come to a conclusion and find out what had happened," 
Hobbs said.

"I never thought it would escalate into what happened today. I hope it 
doesn't give a bad blemish on South Alexandria. I hate that this incident 
happened because it proves that they put their lives on the line every day."

Hobbs believes it is important that a community meeting is held so 
residents can voice their concerns about what is happening in their 
neighborhoods.

"I think we should have a community meeting. Tempers are up right now, and 
we need to let things settle down. But at some point in time we need to 
come together, sit down and talk about our differences."

In 1999, racial tensions became heated in the city following allegations of 
unfair treatment by the police in the black community.

In response to those concerns, in 2000, the city of Alexandria created the 
Alexandria Human Relations Commission in order to pursue civil rights 
complaints and provide mediation, while fostering better relations between 
the races.

Margie Harris, vice chairman of the commission, said she has not been 
active on the committee in recent months due to an illness in the family. 
When asked about the shooting and relations between the black community and 
the police, she reluctantly admitted she has heard concerns.

"There is that concern," Harris said.

Rabbi Arnold Task, who helped found the committee, said Thursday's tragedy 
definitely requires more investigation, and that includes increased 
involvement by the Human Relations Commission.

"I feel we need to meet very, very soon," Task said. "I'm so glad we have 
our commission, and I feel so sad for our community."

Task said that when a civil rights concern comes to the commission's 
attention, the individual is contacted, and usually a committee member, 
often a member of the clergy, meets with the complainant.

"We try to do it in a careful and discreet way that was most helpful to the 
people involved," Task said.

Task said the person assisting a complainant is often known to the 
complainant, and they are able to work it out.

"There have been times we've referred them to agencies in Baton Rouge like 
the state Human Rights Commission, a place where people can refer their 
problems," Task said.

Task said the committee should be doing even more.

"Oh absolutely, more than ever," Task said. "There will always be 
situations where things are not done right, or people are misunderstood, 
and there are a lot of angry people out there, and that's part of society."

Task said situations like this one prove that anger is a concern, but 
lashing out in anger doesn't help in resolving a problem.

Task spoke of a public meeting held last year in which members of the black 
community voiced their concerns.

"We'll have to do more of that," Task said. "In the meantime we need to 
find out what in the world happened today."

"I feel so terribly sad for all the police officers and their families," 
Task said. "The officers are in a sense doing their best to make our 
community a safe community."
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