The town of Chapel Hill has a responsibility to its residents to ensure fair and equitable treatment before the law.
To that end, the town was right to approve a community policing advisory committee in acting as an ombudsman.
The committee would serve as a resolver of disputes between residents and the town. In order to do so fairly, the committee would be independent, confidential and informal.
Such a committee would increase accountability among public officials. Inappropriate action could be more easily unearthed due to increased accessibility for citizens.
Residents would be able to have a greater hand in ensuring responsible government.
Conflict between Chapel Hill residents and town officials is far from alien. In 2009, Charles Brown filed a racial profiling complaint against Chapel Hill police. The firing of two sanitation workers in 2010, although condoned by the editorial board, has remained controversial.
In light of these and other events, it is imperative that the committee allow a way to better communicate and interact with residents.
Failure to do so creates an environment of unresponsive, uncaring government. And ultimately, a government that is unresponsive is hardly democratic.
Equity and responsibility aside, the town must consider the financial implications. As of now, the town has no cost estimates for the program. According to town information officer Catherine Lazorko, initially the town would consult the UNC ombudsman.
