Police and Lynn community converse on lethal force

LYNN ? Police Chief Kevin F. Coppinger says very simply that police do not shoot to kill.Coppinger was part of a panel focusing on the use of lethal force Monday night at a meeting held by the African American Leadership Council when the question was put to him point blank.”Why do police shoot to kill?” asked Yessenia Reynoso, the sister of Dennis Reynoso, an Iraq War veteran who was fatally shot by Lynn police officers on Sept. 5, 2013.”We do not shoot to kill,” replied Coppinger. “There is a process that occurs before an officer has to fire his weapon.”This opened up a much deeper dialogue among those who attended, and Coppinger outlined what he termed a “force continuum” ? a five-step protocol that police must follow before applying lethal force to a situation.Coppinger said the first step is a verbal warning, and if the suspect cooperates with police and is arrested peacefully, that’s as far as it goes.However, Coppinger said, if suspects do not cooperate, the next step is for police to order suspects to show their hands. Step three, if suspects continue to resist, might involve the use of pepper spray and in the fourth step, if suspects physically assault police, a baton might be used to subdue them.Use of deadly force is the last step, and it’s employed if an individual shows a weapon.Besides Coppinger, the meeting, at the Lynn Bethlehem Pentecostal Church, included members of the local clergy, city government officials and representatives, and community activist leaders of the leadership council.Officers in attendance got a chance to speak such as Officer David Woumn, who has been on the police force for 30 years.”I try to do the best I can as an officer,” Woumn said.Also, Francisco Gomez, an officer of 28 years, and the third Hispanic officer hired as a Lynn policeman, is also a part of the Latino Business Association. He voiced his idea for solutions to better the police force.”We would like to see more minority police and officers who can make a difference,” Gomez said.Coppinger said Tuesday the biggest thing the forum accomplished was the dialogue it initiated.”Yes, I feel that the goal was reached and the biggest accomplishment was the dialogue,” Coppinger said.There were some tense moments during the meeting but with the ability for everyone to communicate and get answers some of those tensions were eased.Among possible solutions to the tensions proposed were to have police sensitivity training and more minority officers to represent the communities that are being policed.Coppinger hopes that the Community Liaison Team, which ended as a result of budget cuts, could be reinstated because of its crime prevention and ability to closely interact with the community.”Neighborhoods need to be maintained,” he said. “If no one addresses the issues the neighborhoods will just keep falling apart.”The leadership council is planning on holding another meeting and hopes more young people will attend.