Anaheim’s first Latino chief helps rebuild trust after riots
*Good story about how a Latino police chief is having a positive influence in Anaheim, California, one year after riots and unrest threatened to split the community further. I wonder if there are any Anaheim Taquistas who could corroborate the story. Have things changed as the story claims? VL
By David Whiting, OC Register
Anaheim police Chief Raul Quezada strolls through the crowd at Stoddard Park during National Night Out. He drops to one knee for a photo with a young boy, chats with a young man still sweaty from work, squats to talk to a little girl.
[pullquote]After a June shooting in the La Palma Park neighborhood in which officers shot and killed a man who police said was charging with a knife, Quezada walked the neighborhood, talked to residents.[/pullquote]It’s warm out, just as it was one hot summer night three years ago when angry protesters broke storefront windows and clashed with Anaheim cops following two deadly officer-involved shootings.
But the atmosphere on Tuesday night is so different than that night of rage, it’s difficult to believe this peaceful, friendly vibe between police and residents exists after so little time. No one holds a “police murder” sign. No one yells.
Click HERE to read the full story.
[Photo by NoHoDamon/Flickr]
