Known Better

If there was some doubt that Victor Zordan might not become Monroe’s next police chief, that doubt was erased Tuesday(Oct. 20 )night by the Monroe City Council. Council members gave their approval to confirm Zordan as the next police chief, fulfilling one of Mayor Friday Ellis’ agenda to bring a fresh approach to policing in the city of Monroe. But there was an obstacle that Ellis’ choice to lead MPD had to overcome in the form of opposition from members of the Black community who had reservations about putting someone in charge of the police department where they felt he should have been “known better” by the Black community. Speaker after speaker and even those who sent in their concerns by email to the council, said that they “weren’t against” his qualifications, it was because they didn’t know much about the individual who they would have to interact with on a daily basis. They were aware of his law enforcement record starting with the Monroe Police Department and his work with the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm(ATF) federal law enforcement agency and that was all that they knew of him. But even before Zordan began his official duties as the new chief, he must finish some assignments that he had ongoing at the federal level before assuming his new position. That was not revealed when Zordan was introduced to the public at a news conference last Thursday(10-22) by Mayor Ellis, which may have prompted some who asked for an interim time period for questions to be answered by Zordan in a lengthy response rather than a 30 second sound bite. But there were those who said that enough of Zordan’s record in law enforcement “was enough to know” who he is and what he can do for the city. No one who asked for an interim period, questioned whether Zordan was a “good man”, only that there were what was seen as valid concerns from in the Black community who are mindful of the national situation and the relationship that has existed between them and the police. Those who wanted the city council to delay their votes, asked for a 90 day time period for Zordan to meet with leaders and “know” the people in neighborhoods where problems have been known to exist. As The Dispatch has reported, Zordan will be the fourth police chief in Monroe LA over the last 3-4 years. When asked what was his plans for the police department, Zordan referred to some of the answers he gave at the news conference. On the issue of more policing in the streets, Zordan said that the police officers in the city are “underpaid”, plans to have more officers reflect the community that they patrol and said that there is “no place” for police brutality, as it will be handled. He said that training to de-escalate situations will be addressed for violent situations. Zordan also said that his goal is to get the career criminal off the streets, as he said that his experience in guns and drugs will go along way in reaching that goal. Most of the questions asked by councilmembers and the public centered around race, as the topic of racial profiling was brought up by an email comment, whereby Zordan said that he is willing to meet with community leaders and “discuss” the issues with them. Though the city of Monroe may have a new police chief, the problems that he will face, are not new. While Zordan gave the answers that the community wants to hear, the fact is, the community has heard them before. Just from people who become the new police chief. The community has heard that “more training” is needed, which begs the questions if any previous training was done and if it was effective. The problem of de-escalation has been brought numerous times, but we see time after time where situations escalate, sometimes by police officers, resulting in a loss of life. Zordan said that he is ready to begin his role as police chief, that he knows Monroe and the area very well and he has plans to address the problems of trying to keep young people from making bad decisions that could put them behind bars. But for those who wanted the process to move just a little slowly, the confirmation process to install Zordan as chief, could be seen as the lighting fast confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. Many questions/comments were asked/given, but clearly not everyone at this point in time, is ready for a new police chief.