LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – The Lima Chapter of the NAACP is working to educate the community on the proper ways to interact with law enforcement.
A recent city investigation determined that Lima police officers acted appropriately during an incident involving children at a downtown restaurant. In response, the NAACP hopes to prevent similar encounters from escalating by providing parents and children with tools on how to appropriately handle interactions with officers.
The organization has created a booklet that will be distributed in high-traffic areas such as churches, barbershops and salons. The goal is to reach both youth and adults, helping them understand how to respond to law enforcement while avoiding bad influences, including what can be found on social media.
The organization has created a booklet that will be distributed in high-traffic areas such as churches, barbershops and salons.
“There's so many influences affecting our behavior, and what's important is that we cut through all that, and there's proper teaching so kids know what is required of them when it comes to law enforcement in the schools, sporting events, retail stores, any place you go, because there's cameras everywhere and everyone's watching," said Ron Fails, president of the Lima Chapter of the NAACP.
Fails added that they also have guidance for people who feel they have been unfairly singled out during an incident, including information on how to properly file a complaint. The group is also working to make the booklet available on its Facebook page.
For those seeking a physical copy, the booklet can be found at the Lima Chapter of the NAACP office, located at 2451 Harding Highway in Lima.
