TEMPLE, TX — More than 100 people gathered in Temple on Jan. 18 to address concerns about the community and the city's police department.
In the wake of the killing of Michael Dean, at the hands of a Temple police officer, community members held a discussion on racial tensions in the city.
"It's so important for our community to come together to heal what's going on right now," said Bennie Walsh, President of the Temple NAACP.
The meeting, at St. James United Methodist Church in Temple, was held to answer the question: Where do we go from here?
During the panel, community leaders answered questions about education, economics and policing.
They say the conversation was all about moving the community forward towards positive change.
"Hopefully when this meeting is over we'll get to make some changes," said Walsh.
Church officials did confirm the meeting was organized before the officer-involved fatal shooting of Dean on Dec. 2.
