Dear Hayward Community,
I just finished watching the disturbing video released from the City of Memphis. Like you and your neighbors, I am disgusted and frustrated. I am heartened only by the knowledge that five of the involved Memphis police officers were immediately fired, have been charged with murder, and will face prosecution.
Tyre Nichols died a horrible and senseless death. I cannot express enough our city’s condolences to the Nichols family. Prayers for the family seem like too little in times like these. However, I do believe there is power in collective prayer, and I encourage Hayward to pray for the Nichols Family.
The Hayward City Council with the Hayward Police Department has listened to you and we have worked incredibly hard to establish organizational values and policies that protect everyone. In cases where use of force is applied, Hayward has multiple processes through which behavior is evaluated and determined whether the officer acted appropriately and lawfully. Additionally, the Hayward Police Department has earned Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation whereby every police department policy and regulation has been reviewed by independent international and national evaluators to ensure every Hayward police officer applies only the highest standards and best practices when conducting themselves in the city and in your
neighborhood. Although we have made progress here at home to improve community-police relationships, what happened in Memphis reminds us just how far we have to go as a nation.
I have personally spoken to Bishop Macklin from Glad Tidings Church today. I also called the NAACP Hayward South Alameda County leadership. I am committed to working with them and I am committed to lending City Council support for whatever needs to be done so that we can ensure Hayward is safe for everyone. I am also in constant conversation with Acting Police Chief Bryan Matthews. We all are sickened by what happened in Memphis and are committed to the safety of all Hayward community members and to working together to continue to build and restore trust inevitably shaken by an event such as this.
On behalf of the Hayward City Council, I want to say we share your disgust. We mourn with you and Tyre Nichols’ family, and share their heartbreak and demand for justice.
Mark Salinas
Mayor of Hayward
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