City councilman misrepresents, hurts Florence

Ed Robinson unwisely and unnecessarily played the race card Wednesday night as the Florence City Council discussed its 2009-10 budget and whether to add 18 more police officers.
This newspaper called for the city councilman’s resignation earlier this month because of his personal conduct and arrest record.
We reiterate our call after Robinson’s ridiculous comments about the city’s police.
Robinson, who is black, said he would not support hiring more officers because police “go out and harass my people and destroy their lives.”
We find it hard to believe the city councilman from District 2 has any support left with this continued polarizing behavior.
It’s the police department’s job to protect residents from crime, and if more officers are the answer, then the council has a responsibility to move in that direction based on facts, not fallacy. Robinson’s insinuation about Florence police harassing the black community was offensive. If anyone’s sensitive to what’s happening in the black community, it’s Florence Chief of Police Anson Shells, who is black.
An apology would be in order from Robinson to Shells and his police officers.
Robinson characterized his residence as being “in the heart of a ghetto” in Florence. He said he has never had any problems with gangs. Therefore, why should the city’s police force hire any more officers?
“This is not good for my community,” Robinson said. “All they (police) will do is go out and harass my people and destroy their lives. I’ve got a problem with that.”
Robinson’s comments likely will stir up passion among the councilman’s supporters, who wonder why many arrests involve black offenders.
“Why is it that 75 to 80 percent of those in jail are black when the biggest crimes are in the white neighborhoods?” Robinson asked. “More and more police officers will never solve the problem.”
The crime problem in Florence is the No. 1 issue facing the city. It helped carry Mayor Stephen J. Wukela into office.
“When I was campaigning for mayor, I had people telling me they were prisoners in their own homes because of gangs,” Wukela said. “They asked me to help put a stop to this. We’ve got to protect the people of Florence.”
A proposed police substation downtown would make Florence safer after dark, we believe, and the decision to spread out hiring more officers over time is smart, considering the tough economy.
Putting more officers on the payroll will cut overtime, making it easier for the city and its police department to make their budgets.
The outburst from Robinson fails to consider safety in the black community. Everyone in Florence values personal safety. Robinson’s concerns about a lack of guidance in the black community might be accurate. But they’re misguided when Robinson ties the problems facing young people to police conduct.
“These kids don’t feel free, I don’t feel free,” Robinson said. “The minute they step out of line for the smallest thing, they face a police officer. They are charged with a crime they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. It keeps them from getting jobs.
“It’s not fair, and it’s not right. You are destroying a generation of kids. My concern is these kids are the ones who will be losing if we hire more police officers.”
Robinson is wrong. More police officers would make the community safer in every neighborhood.
Chief Shells would like to use the additional officers to enhance community policing and gang enforcement. Any additional manpower would be a positive step forward.
By falsely accusing the police of destroying lives, Robinson undercuts the brave men and women who protect his freedom. And he misrepresents the very people who elected him to office.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).