Following the Ferguson, Mo, unrest of 2014, Glendale, AZ, law enforcement officer Andre Anderson was employed as the part of the solution of the tense matters at hand. In addition to his ability to combine professional skills, articulation, appropriate firmness, and public and private graciousness, his being African-American was, in my judgment, helpful in the perception that he understood the problems and feelings of African-American community.
Watching him function in leadership, I publicly stated quite honestly my conviction that he did a wonderful work as interim Police Chief. He was “the man of the hour,” just what we needed in advancing peaceful and legal solutions to the great needs at that very tense and trying time.
Accompanied by Pastor Jose Aguayo – leader of the Adopt a Block ministry in and beyond Ferguson and chaplain of the Ferguson Police Department — Chief Anderson visited the KSIV studios in St. Louis. In this radio conversation with him and Pastor Aguayo, he recorded impacting, positive, and very spiritual commentary. Note some of the impacting comments, quotes, and paraphrasing below:
· “I prayed for an approach that would help things.”
· “We needed more of a Christian perspective at the forefront! We needed reconciliation.”
· “Before being officially installed, I visited local churches … not in uniform … including the First Baptist Church of Ferguson (the pizza parlor across the street from the church was one of the area business that had been burned out). Without them knowing who I was or my upcoming law-enforcement role in the City if Ferguson, I received a good reception.”
· “Christ is the only solution” for matters like those that existed in Ferguson;
· “The clergy was enlisted for their ‘moral authority;”
· “Christ could allow for change! We see that in many instances.”
· “Many Christians were praying for positive change’”
· The solution was … “a straight line to Christ!”
· “Race shouldn’t be a factor in Christ’s perspective!”
· “I believe in people above process. We met with a lot of people. We invited people to visit our Ferguson Police Department.”
· “Have improvements happened? “I believe Ferguson is on the way up! We’re in a good place!”
· “When people don’t have God in their lives, they will say or do anything.”
· “At the anniversary of the shooting (of Michael Brown), I met with many of the demonstrators. We all supported prayer. We were in a circle (at that tense anniversary). We stood in a circle – police officers … demonstrators … pastors … holding hands in prayer!”
I expressed a deep personal to Chief Anderson, wherein he was to return to other duties later that week: “You did a wonderful job! We regret that you must leave us!”