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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The City of Monroe is focused on prioritizing and implementing citywide programs, trainings, and services to build and maintain a diverse and inclusive city with opportunities for all. Mayor Geoffrey Thomas and the Monroe City Council have signed a joint statement (PDF) condemning and standing against racism, discrimination, hatred, and committing to taking actions to advocate for and make positive changes to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community.
- Building an Inclusive City
- Creating Infrastructure for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Justice Efforts
- Law Enforcement Efforts
Building an Inclusive City:
Building and strengthening the relationship with the city’s network of community liaisons and continuing to work with them to provide city programs, services, outreach, and enhanced civic engagement.
- Mayor Thomas, city staff, and councilmembers are engaged with residents from our city’s Hispanic/LatinX community through the St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church.
- Mayor Thomas and city staff are engaged in the Monroe Equity Council.
- Mayor Thomas has engaged with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community mosque.
- Mayor Thomas is working with community groups to not just ensure that significant events and historical moments are recognized, including by proclamations, but also to listen and take actions with staff and City Council to improve in areas related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Conducting an internal analysis of city systems, through the use of an inclusion and equity lens, with the goal of identifying specific actions and policies to move towards a more inclusive city.
- Mayor Thomas and the City Council have established the Community Human Services Advisory Board (CHSAB) to address both issues related and contributing to homelessness and to provide support related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Mayor Thomas is evaluating the use of a diversity, equity, and inclusion toolkit to provide a method to assess various practices, policies, and budgetary proposals as they could affect people and employers in our city.
Facilitating staff training and workshops on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Partnering with stakeholders and community leaders.
Creating the Infrastructure for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
Dedicating time and resources from senior leadership and staff to provide thoughtful input on inclusion and social, economic, and legal justice to sustain and develop equity strategies.
Systematically reviewing and implementing policy changes to reflect inclusion and equity. Create a citywide equity lens for hiring, policy development, and general operational practices.
Committing city staff to inclusion efforts.
Justice Efforts
- Mayor Thomas is evaluating the use of a diversity, equity, and inclusion toolkit to provide a method to assess various practices, policies, and budgetary proposals as they could affect people and employers in our city.
- The city applied for and received a grant, from the Office of Public Defense, for a social worker to be present with qualifying defendants in our municipal court. The goal is helping people who are willing to accept services.
Law Enforcement Efforts:
Community Partnership(s)
- The Monroe Police Department (MPD) motto is – Partnering for a strong community
Training
- Monroe Police Personnel have trained over 1,000 hours on topics related to working with marginalized populations to include:
- Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) – All officers attend ongoing CIT courses including an annual refresher. This certification trains officers on de-escalation of persons, including but not limited to, cultural, health, behavioral, and diverse crisis situation issues.
- I940 Training – MPD is compliant with this recently enacted legislation requiring best in practice use of force training, mental health, medical, and de-escalation as well as the requirement to immediately render aid.
- Anti-Bias Training – Online training course that all MPD personnel were assigned to. Anti-bias training is an approach designed to increase understanding of differences and their value to a respectful and civil community. The goal of this training is to actively challenge bias, stereotyping, and all forms of discrimination in the community.
- Use of Force – MPD has in house instructors for a variety of tool used by the department. MPD continuously trains on appropriate use of force with an emphasis on minimum force needed.
- Command Staff Round Tables – Regularly held team meetings. Focus on open discussion of contemporary issues as they relate to race, law enforcement, use of force, and the importance of partnering with marginalized communities.
Listens