Implicit bias training for police part of effort to combat youth gun violence

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids Police Department is training officers to recognize their own prejudices, an example of a wide-ranging effort involving housing, policing, workforce and other areas the city and police have taken to combat youth gun violence, Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman told the Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday.

Five officers and one staff member took implicit bias training, while police leadership participated in an intensive survey called the Intercultural Development Inventory, which assesses one's acceptance of other cultures. Trainings - one or the other or possibly both - will continue, he said.

'I am very confident we the police department, along with other people involved in this - meaning the community - will continue to unite to solve these issues,” Jerman said.

Heads of several city departments reported on strides to accomplish objectives and recommendations laid out in a final report of the Safe Equitable and Thriving Communities Task Force, which found youth gun violence stems from factors across the community, through the education system, stable housing, interactions with police, job opportunities for their parents, among other factors.

The task force was commissioned after the shooting death of Aaron Richardson, 15, at the hands of a 14-year-old in September 2015. Members of the task force have individually continued the effort, such as hosting community conversations, although the task force's charge was completed with the report in February.

The report identified objectives that will require participation from key institutions in the area, including cities, the county and school district.

Cedar Rapids officials said they plan to keep the report's objectives front and center by providing quarterly updates of what the city is doing to meet objectives under its control. The report on Tuesday was the first.

Jerman's example of the training initiative addresses an objective to improve cultural competence. He pointed to a reduction of illegal guns seized and shots fired as meeting the goal of reducing illegal gun positions, and the MVP program at Cedar Rapids high schools meeting the objective of changing youth attitudes on guns and violence.

Jennifer Pratt, community development director, cited the Neighborhood Finance Corporation as an example of creating financial incentives for affordable housing opportunities and an affordable housing bus tour meeting the objective of coordinating affordable housing efforts.

Conni Huber, the city's human resource director, said the city has expanded internship opportunities and participation with workforce programs, meeting the goal of expanding paid internship opportunities.

City officials noted many of the objectives in the task force report align with objectives in the city's 2015 comprehensive plan called Envision CR, so, in many cases, initiatives already are underway.

Angie Charipar, assistant to the city manager, said the hope in presenting the city's approach to the report is to spur organizations and individuals to commit to tackle objectives identified in the report.

Bernard Clayton, of Cedar Rapids, who has spoken out on issues of race and policing, credited city leaders for taking some action, but he still feels more needs to be done. Clayton in particular wanted to see a fresh perspective from an outside agency to examine issues of gun violence in Cedar Rapids, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Instead, Cedar Rapids police have sought the help of Linn County Public Health to examine gun violence as a public health issue. Clayton said it will be hard to get an honest, unskewed evaluation when it's conducted by people embedded in the community.

'This city still doesn't want to admit there's a problem,” Clayton said.

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com

In other action

Also at Tuesday's City County meeting, the council approved a $349,449 contract with Active Thermal Concepts Inc., of Hiawatha, to complete environmental remediation services, including abatement of asbestos and hazardous material, utility disconnects and complete demolition services for Coopers Mill hotel and restaurant, 90 F Avenue NW. Demolition is likely to occur in late July or early August, city officials have said.