Ask Town Council to Appoint Independent Task Force: Why Deploy a SWAT Force ?

The Issue

Many questions remain unanswered in regard to the Chapel Hill Police Department’s deployment on Sunday November 13th 2011 of a heavily-armed Special Emergency Response Team to clear a private building in Chapel Hill that had been occupied by a group of protesters. Seven people were arrested and charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering.

I have submitted a petition to to the Chapel Hill Town Council calling for the appointment of an independent commission to review the events leading up to yesterday’s deployment of the SERT unit. Residents of Chapel Hill are divided, one camp outraged by what they deem to be an unmeasured response by a SWAT team and the other yielding to the professional judgment of the CHPD. Neither side has the facts to which the public is entitled in order understand the events that led to yesterday’s display of lethal force by the Chapel Hill Police Department.

avatar of the starter
Jim NealPetition StarterResident of Chapel Hill. Social activist and entrepreneur. Candidate for the US Senate in 2008 finishing second in the Democratic primary to Kay Hagan. Father of two sons. Current member of Board of Directors of Freedom House Recovery Center, the Board of Advisers of North Carolina Justice Center’s NC Policy Watch, the Board of Advisers at Democracy NC. Blogger @HuffingtonPost. Served on the Board of Governors of The New School in NYC (2002-2006) and numerous corporate and civic boards. In 2001 he was appointed to a 9/11 crisis economic development task force formed by The New York City Partnership. Lecturer at DePaul University and The New School and been a featured guest on CNBC, CBS, Fox, ABC and NPR.
Media inquiries
This petition had 269 supporters

The Issue

Many questions remain unanswered in regard to the Chapel Hill Police Department’s deployment on Sunday November 13th 2011 of a heavily-armed Special Emergency Response Team to clear a private building in Chapel Hill that had been occupied by a group of protesters. Seven people were arrested and charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering.

I have submitted a petition to to the Chapel Hill Town Council calling for the appointment of an independent commission to review the events leading up to yesterday’s deployment of the SERT unit. Residents of Chapel Hill are divided, one camp outraged by what they deem to be an unmeasured response by a SWAT team and the other yielding to the professional judgment of the CHPD. Neither side has the facts to which the public is entitled in order understand the events that led to yesterday’s display of lethal force by the Chapel Hill Police Department.

avatar of the starter
Jim NealPetition StarterResident of Chapel Hill. Social activist and entrepreneur. Candidate for the US Senate in 2008 finishing second in the Democratic primary to Kay Hagan. Father of two sons. Current member of Board of Directors of Freedom House Recovery Center, the Board of Advisers of North Carolina Justice Center’s NC Policy Watch, the Board of Advisers at Democracy NC. Blogger @HuffingtonPost. Served on the Board of Governors of The New School in NYC (2002-2006) and numerous corporate and civic boards. In 2001 he was appointed to a 9/11 crisis economic development task force formed by The New York City Partnership. Lecturer at DePaul University and The New School and been a featured guest on CNBC, CBS, Fox, ABC and NPR.
Media inquiries

Petition Closed

This petition had 269 supporters

Share this petition

The Decision Makers

Chapel Hill Town Council
Chapel Hill Town Council
Petition updates
Share this petition
Petition created on November 15, 2011