WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Rowland meets with community in wake of police shooting (Hartford-AP) _ Gov. John G. Rowland was met with applause and criticism Monday night when he turned out to answer a community's questions in the wake of last month's fatal shooting of a black teen-ager by a white police officer. About 650 people were on hand at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church to hear Rowland promise that he will work to improve relations between minority communities and state agencies, especially the police. He also answered questions from the sometimes angry crowd. "What do you want to have happen to the cop that killed my friend Aquan?" asked Jayquan Faniel, a 15-year-old ninth grader. Faniel was referring to the death of 14-year old Aquan Salmon, a mugging suspect shot in the back on April 13 as he fled from police. Hartford police Officer Robert Allan has said he thought he heard gunshots and believed the boy was reaching for a weapon. Allan has been placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. Rowland replied: "It's not my job to pass judgment. It is my job to make sure there is a fair system." The governor pointed out that he has asked his Law Enforcement Council to evaluate the way the state investigates shootings that involve police officers. The governor said he is looking for recommendations on how to conduct investigations that are considered not only expert, but also impartial. That answer did not satisfy many of those upset with the shooting. "Was the governor here in our community to pacify our people?" asked Carol Perry. "We know that he was." But members of the church audience also applauded Rowland when he said he will continue meeting with leaders from Hartford's black community. "It's not your community, it's not my community, it's our community," Rowland said. Rowland said he'll also work with lawmakers to pass racial equity laws. But he acknowledged the solution to end racial strife will not come solely from government. "I'm a white guy from Waterbury who's lucky enough to be governor," he said. "I don't have all the answers." Rev. J.L. Fenner Sr., pastor of Mt. Olive, said Rowland's appearance will help douse some anger seething in the city's North End community. "The community is potentially a powder keg," Fenner said. "There's a diplomatic way we can calm that down, and this is a way to do it. We want the governor to feel free to crash this place any time he wants." Salmon's death was the third high-profile shooting in Connecticut involving a white police officer and an unarmed black suspect in just over two years. New Milford police officer Scott Smith faces a murder charge in the Dec. 29 shooting of Franklyn Reid, a Jamaican immigrant. Salmon's shooting also came a day before the second anniversary of the shooting of Malik Jones, an unarmed black motorist killed in New Haven by a white East Haven police officer. Many have said those shootings have made minorities _ especially in inner-cities _ afraid and distrustful of police. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Rowland meets with community in wake of police shooting
(Hartford-AP) _ Gov. John G. Rowland was met with applause and criticism Monday night when he turned out to answer a community's questions in the wake of last month's fatal shooting of a black teen-ager by a white police officer.

About 650 people were on hand at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church to hear Rowland promise that he will work to improve relations between minority communities and state agencies, especially the police.

He also answered questions from the sometimes angry crowd.

"What do you want to have happen to the cop that killed my friend Aquan?" asked Jayquan Faniel, a 15-year-old ninth grader.

Faniel was referring to the death of 14-year old Aquan Salmon, a mugging suspect shot in the back on April 13 as he fled from police.

Hartford police Officer Robert Allan has said he thought he heard gunshots and believed the boy was reaching for a weapon. Allan has been placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.

Rowland replied: "It's not my job to pass judgment. It is my job to make sure there is a fair system."

The governor pointed out that he has asked his Law Enforcement Council to evaluate the way the state investigates shootings that involve police officers. The governor said he is looking for recommendations on how to conduct investigations that are considered not only expert, but also impartial.

That answer did not satisfy many of those upset with the shooting.

"Was the governor here in our community to pacify our people?" asked Carol Perry. "We know that he was."

But members of the church audience also applauded Rowland when he said he will continue meeting with leaders from Hartford's black community.

"It's not your community, it's not my community, it's our community," Rowland said.

Rowland said he'll also work with lawmakers to pass racial equity laws. But he acknowledged the solution to end racial strife will not come solely from government.

"I'm a white guy from Waterbury who's lucky enough to be governor," he said. "I don't have all the answers."

Rev. J.L. Fenner Sr., pastor of Mt. Olive, said Rowland's appearance will help douse some anger seething in the city's North End community.

"The community is potentially a powder keg," Fenner said. "There's a diplomatic way we can calm that down, and this is a way to do it. We want the governor to feel free to crash this place any time he wants."

Salmon's death was the third high-profile shooting in Connecticut involving a white police officer and an unarmed black suspect in just over two years.

New Milford police officer Scott Smith faces a murder charge in the Dec. 29 shooting of Franklyn Reid, a Jamaican immigrant.

Salmon's shooting also came a day before the second anniversary of the shooting of Malik Jones, an unarmed black motorist killed in New Haven by a white East Haven police officer.

Many have said those shootings have made minorities _ especially in inner-cities _ afraid and distrustful of police.

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