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– The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office was criticized this week for a video showcasing the diversity of the department and sending the message, “You are safe with us” to the community.
The SLO County Sheriff’s Office posted the video to their social media on Tuesday, then quickly deleted it after a wave of criticism. The video was reposted by a Youtube user.
“I’m Senior Deputy Ron Slaughter, I’m Black and I’m American, You’re Safe With Us,” the video begins. “Hi, I’m Sheriff Ian Parkinson, I’m white and I’m American and you’re safe with us… I’m Deputy Zafar, I’m Afghan, I’m American, you’re safe with us.”
The video shows MPs appearing to interact with the audience, punching passers-by and playing with children on a playground. The video, made in July during the COVID-19 pandemic, does not show MPs wearing masks when interacting with people or practicing social distancing.
“The video was completely muted and another example of how far Parkinson and the department are disconnected from much of the community,” Morro Bay resident Kim Barton commented at the sheriff’s office. “The video was so dishonest it is appalling. If you want to nurture a relationship with the community, why not go out and ask for what the community wants. This publicity stunt was more than embarrassing, ”said Courtney Brogno. See additional comments on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
The sheriff’s office responded to criticism on Wednesday, saying:
Yesterday, the sheriff’s office released a video that aimed to show and celebrate diversity in our agency and in the community. This video was made in July. The employees appearing in this video and the producers have all volunteered their time. Unfortunately, some may not have liked our video in the way it was presented. Our motives were pure. We were hoping to deepen the dialogue on diversity during what has been a very difficult year for our community. We are working and will continue to work with community members to make our county a safe and diverse place to live. Our efforts in this area are a work in progress. We formed a community group several months ago and are working together to identify and resolve racial and discrimination issues in our community. including systemic racism. That being said, we are reading your comments. We hear you. Thank you for your understanding.
The SLO Tribune joined in the criticism, releasing an op-ed Thursday, “A video of an SLO County Sheriff intended to show diversity and concern.” It was a PR flop. The SLO New Times Shredder added comments to a column titled “Sick!” saying, “It’s like one of those ‘let’s talk about sexual harassment in the workplace’ videos from the 90s. Poorly scripted and a little weird. If I didn’t know any better, I would think it was a travesty: Parkinson’s hesitantly using sign language, a fist bump between a white MP and a black man on the sidewalk, MPs talking to ‘random’ and trying to play with small kids on a slide, no masks and a not-so-solid attempt at social distancing.
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