At forum on race relations, former Omaha police chief advocates training on proper use of force

I knew Former Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren long before he became the chief. Her was involved in athletics when my son was in football. His son was a stand out athlete at Omaha North. He retired before I got transferred to the OPD front desk as a uniformed civilian. I retired last November 29th.

OS


http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/at-forum-on-race-relations-former-omaha-police-chief-advocates/article_39b9d08a-d5f9-5b7c-975e-3285c77e4b17.html

POSTED: SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2015 1:00 AM
By Kevin Cole / World-Herald staff writer

Former Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren vividly remembers north Omaha buildings and buses burning in June 1969 after a police officer fatally shot an unarmed 14-year-old girl. It’s something he never wants to see again.

Vivian Strong, the African-American girl, was shot by a white officer near her home in the Logan Fontenelle housing project as she and a crowd of onlookers watched police investigate a store break-in. The shooting triggered five days of rioting.

“We here in Omaha hope and pray that we never have to revisit an experience like that again,” Warren said.

He addressed about 50 people Sunday morning at First Central Congregational Church, a United Church of Christ, near 36th and Harney Streets during a forum on race relations and the role of law enforcement.

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