​Mill Valley Police Continue ‘Uncomfortable Conversation' Series

MILL VALLEY, CA — The Mill Valley Police Department is learning to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

At least that’s the goal of “Uncomfortable Conversations with Black Men,” a discussion series that started in May and continued last week.

The most recent discussion was held July 27.

The series is presented by the Phoenix Project of Marin (a program of Performing Stars), Marin City Ministerial Alliance, and facilitated by Dr. Frank J. Omowale Satterwhite of Leadership Incorporated.

The participants consisted of 20 law enforcement administrators and officers and 20 Black men and leaders who live in Marin City or have ties with its community.

The conversation included a discussion of the contentious history between Black men and law enforcement, and how police can promote racial justice.

“We focused on building a dialogue of understanding,” Mill Valley Police Chief Ignacio R. Navarro said in a statement.

“The sessions centered on looking for progressive changes to work towards solutions for social justice.”

“We focused on building a dialogue of understanding,” Mill Valley Police Chief Ignacio R. Navarro said. “The sessions centered on looking for progressive changes to work towards solutions for social justice.”

The event was held at the Mill Valley Community Center.

Among those in attendance were Marin City religious leaders Rev. Dr. Rondall Leggett of the First Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Floyd Tompkins (St. Andrew Presbyterian Church), and Bishop Johnathan Logan Sr. (Cornerstone Church of God in Christ).

Law enforcement attendees included personnel from Mill Valley, Tiburon, and Belvedere Police Departments. Also in attendance were representatives from the California Highway Patrol, the Marin County Sheriff’s Department, the Marin County District Attorney’s Office, Marin County Public Defender’s Office, and Marin County Probation.

The gathering also included Sausalito Marin City School Superintendent Itoco Garcia.

“We look forward to many more productive conversations to come,” Navarro said, “and we are grateful to all the event organizers and participants for addressing the issues head on in open and constructive dialogue.”