Community, Gwinnett police discuss officer-involved shootings issue

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — People in Gwinnett County had some very direct questions for police Tuesday when they gathered as a community to speak openly.%

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Gwinnett police have had several of these conversations with a cop over the last couple of years, but Tuesday’s was different. At times there was emotion and there were several direct questions.

“When you see four black men riding together in the car, what's the threat?” Lamar Bankhead asked on officer.

Bankhead told Channel 2’s Tony Thomas that he's seen videos of recent officer-involved shootings across the country, including the ambush attacks in Dallas and days of protests closer to home.

“What do we tell the younger black men when they see the videos today?” Bankhead said.

One such young black person is 14-year-old Quinten Fulton, who went to the meeting with his mother.

“How worried are you?” Thomas asked Quinten.%

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“Terrified,” Quinten said.

They spent several minutes talking with Assistant Police Chief Tom Doran.

“I kind of asked him for some advice for dealing if he's approached by a cop,” said Kylee Fulton, Quinton’s mother.

A brief conversation the mom and son hope will pay off someday.

“I see where they come from,” Quinten said.

The meeting wasn't all about questions. Judy Argo showed up just to give hugs.

“I wanted to let their families know that we appreciate everything that they do,” Argo said.

“It is an investment in our community. We want to show the public that we are human just like they are,” Maj. Curtis Clemons of the Gwinnett County Police Department told Thomas.

As for Bankhead's questions, he said,

“The answers I was given was, ‘It was not Gwinnett County.'"

Commanders told Thomas they are already planning another one of these meetings in the next couple of months.

Cox Media Group