Letter to the editor: Candidate questionnaire raises a concern

Canton Repository
Updated ·1 min read

Editor's note: This letter has been updated. The Canton Fraternal Order of Police McKinley Lodge 2 does not represent Canton police supervisors in bargaining. They are represented by the Ohio Labor Council, which has a separate governing board.

Recently, I found a copy of a questionnaire circulated to candidates for public office in the City of Canton.

The cover letter for the questionnaire bears the name and the phone number of the Canton FOP Lodge secretary and was written on the stationery of the Canton Fraternal Order of Police, McKinley Lodge 2. The letter begins with the salutation, “Dear Candidate” and contains an attachment entitled: for “Political Screening Questionnaire 2023."

Two of the questions to candidates, which I find most interesting, read as follows:

  • What is your opinion of the Black Lives Matter movement?

  • Do you feel there is a race issue with law enforcement in the Stark County area?

The placement of these questions in an endorsement questionnaire raises concerns about the motives of the authors of the questionnaire.

In a broad sense, the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted the need for police reform through awareness that several changes are needed, and one talked-about area is more in-depth training on de-escalation.

I have faith the vast majority of police personnel will be responsive to such training; unfortunately, the referenced language in the questionnaire raises a concern that there may be those who will not appreciate the value or importance of such training.

Ed. Davila, Massillon

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter to the editor: Questionnaire for candidates raises a concern