The meeting was disrupted by arguments between attendees and Beth Bourne about solicitation in front of schools
By SONJA WOOLEY — city@theaggie.org
The Davis Police Department hosted a Community Public Safety Training at City Hall on March 3. The meeting, which was meant to train City of Davis residents on de-escalation skills, ended in a shouting match between participants.
The Community Public Safety Training was led by Davis Police Sergeant Matt Muscardini and Davis Emergency Dispatch Supervisor Tanya Baumeister. They presented on how to de-escalate a situation when dealing with someone experiencing a mental health crisis. The training also covered when to call 911 and how to give the best information to dispatch officers.
Heather Caswell, owner of the Wardrobe Boutique in Davis, was in attendance at the meeting. She began the Subcommittee on Safety for the Davis Downtown Business Association, is involved in the Safer Davis Program and is the co-founder of the Davis Community Vision Alliance. She encouraged Davis Police Officer Lawrence Turner to organize the event, sharing what motivated her efforts to improve community safety.
“I’ve had a repeat offender threaten my life and my staff member’s life,” Caswell said. “So a restraining order was filed, and it was a very difficult process. I would say another hope of mine is that that process becomes easier.”
Attendee Janice Lott, owner of Davis’ Newsbeat, also discussed her concerns about crime in Davis.
“Because we live in the downtown [area], we see many different people,” Lott said. “Over the years, we’ve been robbed [and] we’ve been shoplifted, so there are many reasons why we’ve needed to have a good relationship with the local police department. A lot of these teaching techniques are the techniques I’m very familiar with, but it’s good to have a refresher.”
Davis residents in attendance also expressed their anger at Beth Bourne, a local activist known for her anti-transgender rhetoric, who also attended the meeting. Over the past month, Bourne has shown up outside of Winters Middle School, Harper Junior High School and Da Vinci High School in Davis, filming students as they leave their classrooms while attempting to debate them about trans rights. On Feb. 13, Bourne was accused of kicking a student protester at Da Vinci High School.
Near the end of the presentation, participants asked Muscardini whether the police could intervene against solicitors outside of schools who they felt were harassing students. Muscardini addressed their concerns.
“We defer to school staff,” Muscardini said. “They’ll call us if they need us. If someone calls outside and we need to respond, we link up with school staff first and then ask them what they would like to be done or what can be done. We don’t just go to schools and start taking action.”
Bourne began using her phone to record the meeting, which angered several participants.
“She’s going to post it, and then we’re going to be doxxed,” one participant said. “That’s her modus operandi. And even if you don’t say anything, she’ll dox you, and then you have the crazies come after you with death threats. This has happened over and over and over again with this individual, Beth Bourne.”
Bourne addressed the crowd in response.
“I’m speaking out on what is obviously a medical scandal, and that’s why I do go in front of schools, and I’ve only done it a couple [of] times,” Bourne said.
She was shouted down by participants, and the meeting ended soon after. Following the event, Caswell shared a statement about the disruption to the Community Public Safety Training.
“I was sorry to see this valuable Public Safety Training session, presenting important and helpful de-escalation techniques, get disrupted by impolite members of the community who sought to use the event to advance their own political agendas,” Caswell said. “These disruptors hijacked the essential question and answer period and stole time from many members of the public who took time out to meet with the Davis Police Department about this issue. Their conduct was uncivil, disruptive and unworthy of our community. We are better than this.”
Written By: Sonja Wooley — city@theaggie.org
