Columbia NAACP, mayor react to Stockley verdict in St. Louis
NAACP Columbia Chapter President Mary Ratliff said Friday’s acquittal of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley was “mind-boggling.”
“We are working hard here in Columbia to bring peaceful resolutions to our communities, to do some togetherness,” she said. “Things like this make it awful hard.”
Ratliff said she tried getting in touch with her NAACP colleagues in St. Louis Friday with no luck.
“I am suspecting that they are out there in that crowd somewhere.”
In 2014, Ratliff led a march from Ferguson to Jefferson City following the fallout in Ferguson in reaction to the death of Michael Brown. Ratliff said at this time she has no plans to go to St. Louis to participate in the demonstrations.
“Hopefully we’re working together to make sure we don’t have this kind of thing happen in Columbia,” she said. “If I could talk to the other communities, I would say ‘You all need to start doing what we’re doing here in Columbia now and start calling your people together.'”
Columbia Mayor Brian Treece released the following statement Friday afternoon:
“Today, former St. Louis Police Officer Jason Stockley was found not guilty of murdering Anthony Smith while on duty in 2011. As this decision inspires protests in St. Louis, some in our community may properly question whether justice was served in this decision.
Here in Columbia, the City Council has taken specific steps to address the challenges our communities face. The City’s independent Civilian Police Review Board examines complaints and allegations of misconduct. New Municipal Court reforms have been adopted, which include extended court hours to accommodate citizens and the recently announced warrant amnesty program. Body cameras are used to document every interaction with the citizens our officers serve and protect, and Columbia Police Officers undertake hundreds of hours of training to become better public servants by recognizing bias and how to de-escalate events to avoid the use of force.
The City of Columbia – along with the University of Missouri, Boone County, Columbia Public Schools and others – have made social equity a keystone of our interactions with everyone in our community.
Peaceful protests and public discourse are a cornerstone of our community’s civic and democratic values. We ask those who wish to gather to do so peacefully and safely at Courthouse Square on Walnut between 9th and 10th streets. Our local law enforcement officers are committed to protecting First Amendment rights and public safety.
We continue to discuss policing issues with members of our community including the NAACP; Race Matters, Friends; local clergy and youth groups. Much progress has been made. But more work remains to be done. We embrace differences and learn from each other to create a better community for all.”
