Southern Burlington County NAACP Launches Police Relations Survey

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — The Southern Burlington County NAACP has teamed up with Willingboro and Vicinity NAACP and Greater Delaware Valley NAACP to launch a tool aimed at equality, equity, and accountability, the groups announced.

The goal of the Police Experience Survey, which is anonymous, is to provide an accurate account of the relations between residents and their police departments, according to the group.

“If you only listened to many of our police and elected officials, you'd think we didn't have serious issues involving law enforcement in our county. It's time for real data that changes the narrative,” Southern Burlington County NJ NAACP President Marcus Sibley said. “The survey is a great tool to that end, and all three Burlington branches working together translates to participation from all parts of our county.”

The survey launched on Aug. 26 after countywide calls for police reforms in July, according to the groups. The calls concerned the police response to the actions of a Mount Laurel man who was caught on video shouting offensive and racial slurs at neighbors in his condominium complex. Read more here: Mount Laurel Man's Racist Rant On Video Sparks Protest

“The three NAACP branches of Burlington County can have a greater impact working in alignment confronting issues that affect us all, we look forward to continual collaboration,” Willingboro & Vicinity NAACP 1st Vice President Will Weston said. “One of these issues is the way we are being policed by law enforcement officers. This survey will provide data concerning the community's interactions with law enforcement officers, and attitudes towards policing.”

Topics covered in the survey include representation, funding for emergency alternatives, the thin blue line flag displays by public servants, and more.

“We are advocating for adequate funding for the recruitment of more diverse police departments,” Rhonda Sessons said. “With the help and unanimous support of all NAACP Burlington County branches, this survey provides a way for the voices of the black and brown community to be heard loud and clear.”

The groups encourage all county residents to participate, and the survey can be found at www.sbcnaacp.org.