Sheriff Greene: Mahoning Has ‘Raised the Bar’ on Fairness

Unrest ignited by the death of a Minneapolis man in police custody in May has overshadowed improvements police agencies have made in recent years to ensure fairness, Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene says in a recent interview with Valley Tough.

“We can always bet better, but I just think it’s a little disheartening when one moron who should go to prison for life in Minneapolis does something like that to an individual … and it blows the country up like a powder keg,” Greene said.

“It really tarnishes the badge and leaves us … law enforcement in general … in a position where we feel like we’re having to defend ourselves. It really is a shame.”

The interview was part of Valley Tough’s “Words on Race” series with host Chris Gunther.

Check out the video below.

The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office has “raised the bar” in recent years to make sure citizens are treated fairly, regardless of their race, Greene said. Specific steps have included:

• Introduction of body cameras worn by officers.
• Better collection of statistics on law enforcement activity.
• Implementation of reviews of every case of use of force.
• More aggressive recruitment of minority officers.

In 2019, Greene said, county deputies pulled over nearly 4,000 people and 12.1 percent were minorities. More than half of those were released with warnings, he said. “Racial profiling is 100 percent forbidden,” Greene said.

Asked about suggestions for possible solutions to racial strife facing the nation, Greene said law enforcement needs to be “as transparent as possible.”

“We need to do what we’ve been doing in Mahoning County — being involved in community engagement and keeping our books open,” he said.

Valley Tough is a community information website launched in March 2020 and managed by Pecchia Communications, a Youngstown public relations and marketing firm. Located at www.valleytough.org, the site enjoys financial support from Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates, Aim Transportation Solutions, NOMS Ankle & Foot Care Centers, the Mahoning County Land Bank and Pecchia Communications.

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