Amid constant protests calling for police reform as well as his resignation, Brian Dugan has been the focus of intense scrutiny over the last few months, and in response, the Tampa Police Chief announced today the creation of a new “Chief's Community Advisory Team.”
“The Team will serve as community liaisons to the Chief and weigh in on issues surrounding the department,” reads a statement sent Wednesday. “They'll also make suggestions on how officers can build better relationships and trust within the community."
According to the statement, Dugan is seeking 10 “diverse” applicants, who must be able to meet in person with the Chief for scheduled meetings, be in “good standing with the community,” and live within Tampa city limits for the past five years. Candidates will serve a one-year term.
It’s worth noting that Tampa Police officers don’t even need to live within city limits, so that might be something worth discussing with Dugan, along with the fact his department hasn’t made an arrest for the driver who plowed into protesters last month, nor have they even mentioned whether or not there's an investigation into the person who drove through protesters on July 4, or said why he continues to say his officers were “ambushed” when responding to a weekly party they knew about for at least a year, why he thought it was a good idea to to dox a woman who criticized his department after an officer held a gun on her during a traffic stop, or why under his leadership the department has witnessed a 24% increase in use of force, and despite health risks, a 223% increase in chemical agents like tear gas and pepper spray.
The application includes questions about the applicant's “community involvement,” occupation, race, gender, driver’s license number, and a recommendation from at least one person. The application is open for 30 days starting now, and Dugan himself will select the 10 applicants.
"I look forward to working with people from all walks of life and to listen to their thoughts on how we police the city of Tampa," Chief Brian Dugan, who's been noticeably absent from public view after his disastrous interview on Fox & Friends on June 24, where he told the hosts his officers would not "take a knee, we’re going to stand up."
Back in June, Mayor Jane Castor announced new policy changes for local police, as well as a similar task force called, "The Mayor's Community Task Force on Policing," that involves 40 members and will look at national best practices in policing and then review TPD’s policies and procedures to identify what is being done well and what needs to be fixed.
Chief Dugan was notably absent from that press conference.
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This article appears in Jul 9-15, 2020.