Melrose Leaders Reach Compromise On Bias Training, Gun Upgrades

MELROSE, MA — Neither implicit bias training nor a police weapons upgrade is in the city's immediate future, but they don't appear to be far off, either.

City officials agreed Wednesday night to fund an external needs assessment of racial equity in Melrose and defer the weapons upgrade to the fall as part of a compromise for what had become a harshly divisive issue.

Mayor Paul Brodeur also committed long-term investments in setting aside at least $100,000 to implement what the needs assessment suggests — including potentially bias training — and, eventually, dedicating annual funds for diversity, equity and inclusion.

"I know that we are at the beginning of a long process that must be sustained over time," Brodeur told the Council. "And I think that this plan does that."

The bias training will be funded by a free cash allocation of $40,000, with $26,000 coming from the police allocation and $14,000 coming from the informational technology allocation.

Brodeur committed to taking $26,000 from the city's next round of free cash once it's certified to fund the weapons upgrade. The free cash is expected to be certified by Nov. 1.

That free cash will also be used to implement what the needs assessment suggests. Brodeur said he will propose at least $100,000.

Brodeur also said the FY22 budget will see the beginning of an annual commitment to funding a diversity, equity and inclusion line item "to assist in meeting the challenges and goals identified through the external needs assessment and any related actions including, but not limited to, training, diversity in recruiting, hiring and retention practices, and community engagement."

The proposals to take the funding from police and IT and fund the need assessment were approved unanimously by the Council, who had no discussion on the matter.

In fact, the meeting was strikingly cordial, particularly after back-to-back contentious meetings that drew public criticism. President Jen Grigoraitis set the tone from the beginning, calling on her colleagues to be collegial, respectful and professional.

Both the short- and long-term commitments to diversity, inclusion and equity stem from the reaction to Brodeur's original request nearly two weeks ago to take the $26,000 from the police weapons and re-direct them to implicit bias training. The request, which came in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd and national unrest over racial inequality and police brutality, sparked a heated conversation in Melrose.

Some councilors questioned why the bias training funding had to come at the expense of new police guns; Chief Mike Lyle said the department's .40 calibers are 14 years old and new 9mms would be more accurate and cost-efficient.

Even more councilors expressed frustration at Brodeur communicating the request to them the afternoon they were set to meet, giving them what they said was a complicated situation on a moment's notice.

In the end, the two sides found common ground, avoiding a potentially sticky stalemate over a larger police funding allocation and bias training.

The Council then proceeded to rip through a number of items, including approving the proposed FY21 budget.

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