Dozens of people crowded into the Gahanna City Council chambers Thursday for a meeting on race relations and law enforcement.
So many people showed up to the meeting, some had to stand in the back of the room and in the hallway.
The panel discussion was led by Rev. Joel King and Gahanna Police Chief Dennis Murphy.
“The time to have the conversation is now not after something bad happens,” Murphy said.
The meeting comes less than a month after three officers were murdered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. That shooting was one of several others involving law enforcement across the country in just a short period of time.
“There's definitely some disparity as far as how the black community views they've been treated by law enforcement and the population at large,” Gahanna resident Nathan Bell said.
For an hour, Gahanna police had an open and honest conversation with clergy, judicial leaders and the community about building a better relationship with law enforcement.
“It was surprising to see reactions of people's perspectives,” Gahanna resident Kathryn Harris said. “You know looking at one person and another person didn't understand that.”
Many shared personal experiences, even fears. Bell mentioned having "the talk" with his teenage son about the best way to respond to officers.
“I take that very seriously,” Bell said. “Even if that means having your civil rights violated and allowing that and letting that arise so, you can just come home and not retaliating or saying this isn't right and not fighting that and saying ‘you know what officer, whatever it is that you need from me.”
Chief Murphy said he is committed to having his department engage the community, if only they are invited.
“I need this to be the firsts of hopefully many conversations,” Murphy said. “We want to be invited to civic associations, condo associations, street parties...we'll go to people's living room.”