The Center for Law and Justice is responding to the resignation of Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins.

As NewsChannel 13 reported on Wednesday, Hawkins spent six years as police chief for the department.
He is leaving Albany for Warren, Michigan in December.

You can read the full CFLJ statement below:

“With the resignation of Police Chief Eric Hawkins from his role as the head of the Albany Police Department (APD), the Center for Law and Justice (CFLJ) will continue to highlight the need for effective and committed leadership on issues of racial justice in policing.

“Our late Executive Director, Dr. Alice P. Green prepared a report in August 2019 which surveyed community perceptions of APD. When asked whether they viewed APD as trustworthy, 72% of Black residents in the study strongly or somewhat disagreed. 82% of Black residents disagreed with the statement that “APD treats all people with respect.” Respondents cited verbal and physical abuse of themselves or family members, high-profile cases of police brutality, and defenselessness against unjust police actions.

“Communities that experience high levels of crime, incarceration, and police presence need to be at the forefront of the selection of a new Albany Police Department Chief, especially when these communities feel alienated by and mistrustful of police. Our communities need to see action, not just words, on issues such as structural racism, racial disparities, and the crime-generative factors that trap them in cycles of high-crime, incarceration, and poverty. CFLJ invites the Albany Police Department to collaborate with us in the search for a new Chief, to hear out community concerns, and to ensure that the new leader can collaborate with disadvantaged communities in addressing safety concerns in a trusting, respectful, and accountable manner.”