Jerry Demings has a problem with the African American community.
Not a big problem, but an evolving one. Some say, he has lost touch with the community that propelled him into power, making him Orange County’s first elected Black Sheriff in 2008.
A native son of Orlando, Demings was long viewed by the African American community as “one of us.” A familiar story, local boy makes good. A hero, brilliant, gifted and black.
So, whats happened?
Maybe its politics or maybe its the times we live in but several events have caused previously strong supporters to express disillusionment as a result of his handling more than a few cases that were particularly offensive to Black Orlando.
The Alta Vista shooting. The McFarlene kid and of course, the most egregious handling of the Barber Shop raids which drew national attention.
At a recent press conference, Sheriff Demings touted the professionalism of his agency and the team of investigators who were assigned to the now winding down Casey Anthony case. During the press conference, West Orlando News Online asked Mr. Demings his take on the growing uneasiness in the Black community as a result of these cases.
“There have been controversies and while we took great criticism, there have been great successes, such as a reduction in crime,” Demings said.
Just how much of the crime reduction is a result of the terrible Central Florida economy remains to be seen. As for controversies, no Orange County deputy would ever place a gun to the head of a Winter Park hair stylist as was done in the barber shop raids.
Why there wasn’t more of an outcry can probably be attributed to Mr. Demings’ relationship with the Black church community.
Arthur Greene, a local Pine Hills resident lamented the lack of outrage.
“These pastors in the hood put a lid on it,” said Greene. “Folks were angry. Jerry knows better than that. He knows what the barber shop means to the black community.”
Added Greene, “Black folks would have never allowed Kevin Beary to get away with something like that.”
And, therein lies the problem.
