bakernin@grinnell.edu
Grinnell’s new police chief, Michael McClelland, has strong words when it comes to confronting racism in his police department, but as of now he has no specific plans to increase racial bias training or institute new department policies.
Speaking at a Grinnell League of Women Voters (LWV) forum held over Zoom on March 11, McClelland stated that, “If there’s any evidence that my cops are being racist … I’m going to fire them. Plain and simple.”
Audience-members were instructed to send in their questions to the new police chief – most of which were related to racial-bias and police-misconduct – to the LWV at least two days in advance. They were not allowed to ask follow-up questions unless permitted by the moderators.