The Houston Police Department recently posted the following news to its website, which I’m reproducing in full since the public information officers are sometimes ordered to take notices down with no warning:
February 13, 2006 — On Thursday, February 9, 2006, representatives of the Houston Police Department met with local Muslim leaders at the Islamic Dawwa Center, located at 202 Main. The primary purpose of the meeting was to address local concerns and recent international attention given to the media handling and depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.
Among the organizations represented at the meeting were the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Iman Academy, Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim American Society, Muslim Islamic Society of Greater Houston, Muslim Observer Newspaper, Masjid Ul Mumineen, Islamic Dawwa Center and the Madarsa Islamia. The meeting was organized by the Community Relations Unit of the Public Affairs Division.
The Muslim leadership recognized the high level of trust and confidence in each other and the general appreciation accorded law enforcement in the greater Houston area. Law enforcement officials in turn recognized the positive steps that have been taken within the Muslim community not to overreact to events in other areas, and gave assurances to the leaders that local events will be given the attention they deserve. “Whenever someone commits a hateful act, their conduct only serves to strengthen the bond between law enforcement and the targets of hate; this meeting is a good example,” said Captain Dwayne Ready of the Houston Police Department.
The Houston Police Department is proud of the positive rapport that exists between local law enforcement and the Muslim community. It is hoped that such dialogues will serve to enhance this rapport and to maintain vital lines of communication between the department and the diverse communities we serve.
This is the same police department, mind you, that doesn’t have the manpower to provide citizens the training to form neighborhood watch patrols in some parts of town.
But, who are we to question the priorities of HPD brass? After all, diversity is beauty.
BLOGVERSATION: TBIFOC.
