On May 25, 2020, we all witnessed the murder of George Floyd. One day after the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, and I’m wondering, do marginalized communities feel safer here in NH? The answer is no. The past year not only revealed the undercurrent of white supremacy in NH, but also exposed how our municipalities have historically underserved individuals who struggle with substance use, mental health, etc. Local organizations providing relief have picked up the slack but are too underfunded to make the difference needed. Police departments, however, are given a significant amount of funding from municipalities to mediate issues most affecting our community, despite not having the expertise to do so.
Police departments in NH have stated they are not the best people to handle these situations, yet they’re the ones who respond. Some have expressed that they’re having a hard time filling vacancies, leaving them to commit officers to follow up calls for overdoses and mental health instead of their typical duties. Municipalities should be conducting studies and facilitating the creation of a 24/7 emergency response crisis intervention teams to handle situations where people need support and resources. Municipalities can administer mental health specialists and recovery coaches in place of their vacant officers to handle and improve support to those struggling with drug use and mental health. This will keep our community members safe and reducing the strain on police departments. I call on the leaders of our municipalities to make this commitment for the future of our communities.
Clifton West
Barrington