Sanford leaders, police chief say new efforts to restore trust in city have worked

SANFORD, Fla. — Sanford leaders said efforts to bring the city together after the death of Trayvon Martin are working.

They outlined steps they’ve taken at a summit Wednesday to help the community to start trusting police and city leaders again.

Those on the panel commended Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith for what he’s done.

Residents in the historic Goldsboro community said they’ve noticed his efforts, but they don’t think much has changed.

Frances Oliver has worked to preserve Sanford’s history through museums along Goldsboro Boulevard.

Not long ago, another piece of history was added; a memorial for Trayvon Martin.

“We were doing good as far as coming together and then Trayvon Martin happened,” Oliver said.

When Martin was killed more than three years ago, the community aired out deep-seeded problems about the city and a police department it didn’t trust.

Smith took over the department in the midst of it all and, since then, has been working to regain the community’s confidence.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Chief Smith,” said Oliver.

Smith, along with Sanford’s mayor and other city leaders, addressed city leaders from around the country about what’s changed in Sanford since Martin’s death.

They said they’ve seen changes because of increased communication and transparency with the community through the chief’s walk and talks and body cameras worn by officers.

But Oliver doesn’t think the changes are widespread yet.

“I have not seen the changes that have been put on paper,” Oliver said.

Smith and Mayor Jeff Triplett acknowledge there is still work to be done, especially in the area of profiling.

“It’s not right. But it’s there and the more we can teach our police department, and us as individuals, to not do that, the better off we’re going to be,” said Triplett.

“We want to get beyond the glaring indication that because we wear a uniform, we don’t care,” Smith said.

Smith said he’s been working to recruit more black police officers, but they aren’t getting as many as they’d like to apply.

WFTV