A Case Study: Alli Alliance iin A Amarillo ill Paula Hertwig Hopkins Former City F Cit M Manager W Warrensburg, b Mi Missourii and d Interim Assistant City Manager Amarillo, Texas Contractor, SGR Consultants ICMA Conference Presenter

P l Hertwig Paula H t i Hopkins H ki • Why am I here? To convey a sense of urgency that our society is indeed becoming more uncivil

• What will I accomplish? To share case study and practical strategies to help mitigate misinformation and disinformation

• What can you glean from listening to me? To establish and maintain civic trust requires q work,, purpose, and nurturing

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Misinformation IInformation f ti presented t d as ffactt b butt false f l because b presenter does not have facts straight.

Di i f Disinformation ti Information presented with intent to deceive.

Denialism Self-selected information that “flies in the face” of scientific fact, and supports what presenter wants.

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo • Law Enforcement Case Study • Demonstrate Lack of Trust & Growing Incivility i.e. Use of Force Issues g y • Conveyy “Sense of Urgency” • Threats from Misinformation, Disinformation, and Denialism • Sabotages Critical Thinking • Makes For “Bad” Public Policy • Share Successful Approaches

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Background Information: • Community Leaders Took Initiative Over Two Years Ago • Pre Ferguson (August 9, 2014 Michael Brown) • Minority Community Leaders Participated in Police Citizen’s Academy • Informal Discussions Began Invitation from Leaders j City y Police Shooting g Incidents ((Baltimore, April p 12, 2015, • Major Freddie Gray) • Few Local “Trigger” Arrests/Confrontations • Police/Minority Community Initiated Formal Meetings Year Ago • Community Alliance of Law Enforcement and Civilians (C.A.L.L.) “born”

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo • News Channel 10 i Amarillo in A ill – February 2, 2016 7:04 p p.m. m – Announcement of C.A.L.L. Group – Move Police From Warrior to Guardian – Law Enforcement Nor City Wrote Purpose Statement

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo C.A.L.L. (Community Alliance of Leaders & Law Enforcement)

Purpose Statement In response to the climate around the country as it relates to sensed hostility between community and law enforcement, a few Amarillo community leaders saw the need to begin establishing a more cohesive relationship with the City City’s s law enforcement agencies…our mission is to construct an alliance that will serve as an extension for our law enforcement agencies as well as assist th agencies the i with ith community it relations, l ti acting ti as, but b t nott limited li it d tto, a calming agent between the community and law enforcement if controversial issues ever were to arise.

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Information • • • • •

Amarillo PD PACE Officers dispatched May 20, 2016, 11:00 a.m. 1200 North Monroe - abandoned apartments - minority neighborhood Barricade situation Shots fired at girlfriend by suspect - armed with handgun Perimeter set, SWAT notified, marked units pulled away

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Information • Lengthy standoff: negotiation, assessment, assurance to public, robot i intervention i • Neighborhood restless and agitated - requested C.A.L.L. assistance • Last resort: Introduction non-lethal chemical agent g • Suspect deceased: Self inflicted gunshot wound • Processing completed next day at 8:19 a.m.

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Disinformation Social post 16 hours later: “Amarillo Amarillo Texas…have no respect for African American Men’s lives. The police department shot this man in front of his family without any family…without remorse.”

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Follow Up Information: • • • • •

PIO reviewed i d social i l media di Chief called C.A.L.L. members I Immediately! di t l ! No N waiting! iti ! Shared factual information “P h d Out” O t” Factual F t l “Pushed Information • Thanked Th k d C C.A.L.L. ALL • Let’s do this again!

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Strategies/Approaches: • Realize Local Incidents Have National Impact p Work Together, g and Show • “Ask for Help, Respect.” (PERF Forum, March, 2016) g – “Best wayy to • Be In Business of “Trust Building” build trust is to go to the people…do not expect them to come to you in an open forum…Reach out to each other during non-stressful times.” (Ask for Help…(Comments 12. and 17)

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Strategies/Approaches: g pp • Understand Nuances of Trust – Small Things Count! • Realize Building Relationships Matter – It’s Work! • Know Police Misconduct (real or perceived) Not Necessarily Separate Issue From Other Community Problems • Identify Id tif and d Correct C t Disinformation Di i f ti and d Misinformation

A Case Study: y Alliance in Amarillo • Create Formal Alliance:  Purpose Statement  Implement p  “Go Public”

• • • • • •

Establish informal and formal meetings Meaningful agenda and communication discussions Research and stay current! Sh Share i f information ti Recognize and anticipate “trigger” events and issues City of Kansas City initiated “Rumor Rumor Page” Page kcmo.gov/rumorpage

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo Concluding Thoughts: • Policy built on Misinformation, Disinformation, and Denialism adversely affects budget decisions • Costly: Lawsuits, non-strategic use of dollars • Lack of civility threatens health of community “…democratic functioning of our communities.” Why Can Can’tt We Just Be Civil? (Berg and Waldron Waldron, PM, October 2015) pp civility y • Greater Public Trust supports • Incivility Distracts from long term goals • Maintaining Civic Trust requires work

A Case Study Study:: Alliance in Amarillo Interview with three (3) Alliance Leaders: Pastor Manny DeLosantos, Power Cathedral Pastor Anthony Harris, St. John’s Baptist Church Pastor James Tudman, Shiloh Church

How Do We Build Trust? Your Advice “in a Nutshell?” I t Interview i Video Vid

A Case Study: Alliance in Amarillo References: •The Dictionary of Mis-Information, Tom Burnam, 1975 •Final Report Of The President’s President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing Policing, May 2015 •Advice from Police Chiefs and Community Leaders on Building Trust “Ask for Help, Work Together, and Show Respect, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) March (PERF), M h 2016 •The Age of Disinformation, video Whatis.com •Public Management, Why Can’t We Just Be Civil?, Berg/Waldron, October 2015 •Social Media: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly for Municipalities, presented by Herbst and Lide, Esq. October 10-13,2010 Trust Me, II’m m Lying, Ryan Holiday, 2012 •Trust •Kansas City Rumor Page Supposedly Aims to Correct the Record, But Still Call It Spin, Government and Politics, July 2016 •The Big Fat Surprise Surprise, Teicholz, Teicholz 2014

Questions/Comments? Additi Additional l IInformation… f ti