Bridgeton Mayor Albert B. Kelly wrote an open letter to residents regarding the police-involved shooting death of Jerame Reid. You can read the full statement below:
Last Tuesday, January 13th at the City Council meeting, I took the opportunity to share some thoughts with those in attendance, many of whom were there in response to the police-involved shooting that resulted in the death of Jerame Reid
There is understandably, a desire to know exactly what happened that evening in the midst of a traffic stop with two Bridgeton Police officers.
That a life was lost, regardless of the circumstance, is always tragic because at bottom, what remains are sadness, grieving, anger, and loss. But these are all separate from the question of justice.
I share this because segments of the community, some in the media, even self-identified activists are demanding answers and these will be forthcoming, but not before investigations are completed.
That the process is not fast enough for some is certainly understandable; but we should rather endure that frustration at present; then to jump to conclusions prematurely only to have to amend them later on.
Even when the investigation is completed and the facts known, regardless of what they are, many will accept those facts and some will not.
But we will still have to go on as a community. We will still have to live our lives and raise our families and work at our jobs and ultimately decide what lessons to take away from that night.
We will have to decide whether we will give in to forces and voices outside of our control that speak division and discord or whether we will choose those things that bring our community together.
The Martin Luther King Jr holiday reminds us that the choice between division and unity, like the choice between building up and tearing down, is not a new one; but it is one that requires reaffirming and renewal…and it was intended for times such as these.
On a personal level, I share my heartfelt condolences with the Reid family and thank them for calling for restraint and peaceful protest in our community just as I thank those in the community who have heeded those calls for peace; not allowing emotions to get the better of us.
As the chief elected official for the Great City of Bridgeton, it is my responsibility to make sure the citizens of our community are kept informed as to the events of that evening, even as it is my responsibility to protect those who express themselves through peaceful protest.
I want our citizens to know that I do not take this responsibility lightly and because I do not lead in a vacuum; I have sought the advice, counsel, and even the prayers of many individuals, including community leaders and clergy, as to the direction we ought to take as a city not only in these hard days, but in the seasons to come.
However, because there can be misunderstanding as to the role of civilian leadership, I must make one thing clear; namely that it is not legal nor is it proper for me, as a civilian leader, to involve myself or my office directly in an active police investigation.
What I can do and what I have done is to appoint professional and capable people to leadership positions within the Bridgeton Police Department to oversee this day-to-day work with integrity, and that includes this investigation. That’s why I support and have faith in the Bridgeton Police Department.
My standing request to the community then, is not to rush to judgment, but to allow the facts of that evening to come out in the course of a thorough and proper investigation. As I’ve said before, this is not a CSI television show where cases are introduced and resolved in an hour.
There are no short cuts in any proper investigation, nor should there be. These are complex issues and I want the experts to finalize their findings to the best of their abilities. As we all do, I want the facts to lead to the ultimate truth and I am confident the facts will speak for themselves.
The community has a right to know exactly what happened and as our city’s chief public servant, that right has been and continues to be acknowledged even as the investigation is being completed. When that process is wrapped-up by all the proper investigative agencies, both the Reid family and the community at large will be informed of the results.
