Police issues concern local churches

Seneca leaders have agreed to meet with church representatives to discuss ways that members of the community can interact with police officers.  The request for the meeting came last night from the Rev. W-C Honeycutt, representing the Seneca River Baptist Association, a group of more than one dozen area churches.  Honeycutt said he and his organization want to be pro-active and avoid situations in Seneca such as Minnesota and Louisiana.  The pastor referred to incidents in which police officers have shot young black men in situations that have created questions about the justification of lethal force and policies regarding training of officers in the use of force generally. Mayor Dan Alexander agreed. Alexander said, “I’ll be glad to sit down with you,” Alexander and he added that the discussion should include other council members and Police Chief John Covington.