Charleston Police Announce Plan to Improve Race Relations

Charleston police have announced a plan to improve community relations, particularly with black residents.

Local activists joined police at a news conference Tuesday to announce the city’s goal of making Charleston a national leader in race relations, community policing, and youth engagement.

Police say they plan to begin using body cameras within weeks and will publish monthly arrest statistics that include race, age, gender and cause of arrest in order to increase transparency.

Officers will also meet regularly with a diverse advisory council that will consist of young people ages 18-25.

Chief Brent Webster says he wants his department to “remain ahead of the curve” at a time activists across the nation have criticized numerous fatal shootings of black men by white police officers.