LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Weeks ago we spoke to candidates for Lee County Sheriff, Coach Ray, and James Leavens, now we bring you the latest candidates on the ballot Carmen McKinney and Robert Neeld.
Fox 4 spoke with them about the heightened awareness of police brutality within our communities.
Robert Neeld, accountant and current candidate for Lee County Sheriff says he’s had to self examine, as black communities are voicing concerns of equality and racial injustice.
“I’m forced to look inward and reexamine my own privilege, to see if I have taken advantage of a privilege that I have of being a white male, ” said Neeld.
We also spoke to candidate Carmen McKinney, a former Major with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, who says the key to bridging the gap between law enforcement and African-Americans is hiring people who care about the community.
“We need to first pay them well so we attract the best...We need to hire people that want to be servants, that want to go out there and help people”, said McKinney.
Neeld says if elected sheriff, he will work to rebuild the current system.
“Demilitarizing the department, de-escalate the violence and aggressiveness in which law enforcement is sometimes associated with, and update the department for the jobs that have been thrust upon it, ” said Robert Neeld.
Many people are now urging state leaders to defund the police, but these candidates disagree, and say funds should be used on better deputy training.
“We need trained people that can deal with those mental health issues to help address them appropriately rather than just picking them up and locking them up, ” said Neeld.
Carmen McKinney emphasized the importance of utilizing state agencies to deescalate situations.
“By using unified command we all reach an understanding of where we are supposed to be and where our capabilities are, ” said McKinney.
Robert Neeld added another possible tactic.
“Require that deputies address people by their sir name, ” said Neeld.
Above all, McKinney says officers should hold each other accountable.
“We should be teaching at the academy intervention when an officer is not doing what he has been trained to do, ” said McKinney.
Both candidates stating there much to be done to improve tensions between law enforcement and its surrounding communities.
Primary Election Date: August 18, 2020
General Election Date: November 3, 2020
