A program exploring “The Paradox of Being a Black Police Officer in Today’s Society” is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Mar. 7 at the L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
Corey Saffold, a school liaison officer with the Madison Police Department, will discuss his experiences in a time when police are often viewed as an untrustworthy enemy, especially in the African-American community.
His presentation will address how he deals with being a black officer in the wake of a series of highly publicized deaths of unarmed African-Americans at the hands of police.
Saffold will suggest strategies for raising awareness in the community at large about the need to confront issues in the relations between minority communities and police departments. His talk will also include his personal experiences with law enforcement and how those experiences have helped to shape his approach to upholding the law throughout the city.
The hour-long program will be held in the Eau Claire room on the library’s lower level. It is free and open to the public.
Saffold, who grew up in Milwaukee, is known in the Madison community for his volunteer work, which includes working with youth if different ages and diverse demographic backgrounds. He has been a member of the Madison police force for nearly 10 years and has served as a school liaison officer at Madison West High School since 2014.
The program here is a “ShopTalk” conversation which is part of a Wisconsin Humanities Council initiative, the Working Lives Project. That project is designed to promote reflection and action about what work means both for individuals and for the community collectively.
The Eau Claire program is co-sponsored by UW-Eau Claire’s Circles of Change and by humanKIND, which is part of the Eastside Hill Neighborhood Association. The Circles of Change program is a joint effort by UW-EC and community partners to develop and welcome a more racially and ethnically diverse and inclusive environment in the Chippewa Valley.
Further information about the program is available at the Library’s Information & Reference desk, by calling 715-839-5004 or by email to librarian@eauclaire.lib.wi.us