SALISBURY — The Salisbury Police Department will continue its series of in-person conversations with the Salisbury community tonight in partnership with Salisbury Pride and focused on engaging members of the LGTBQ community.

The next event in the Cultivating Community Conversations series will take place Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at City Park, 316 Lake Dr. Dinner will be provided.

“Building relationships through open dialogue has been one of our key priorities,” said Salisbury Police Chief Patrick Smith. “By collaborating with Salisbury Pride, we’re creating an opportunity to better understand the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ community. It’s critical to have these discussions so we can listen, learn and continue building trust with all our residents.”

The program began in June of 2022 under former Police Chief Jerry Stokes and has been funded by ongoing grants from the Duke Energy Foundation. The annual grant of $25,000 is aimed at addressing “diversity and inclusion for law enforcement and community to enhance cultural responsiveness.” The local police take advantage of the opportunity to meet with residents from around the community to discuss relevant topics in an informal setting, for officers to share information and for people to get to know officers throughout the department.  

Michael Brooks, Salisbury Pride board president, emphasized the value of this collaboration. “Partnering with the Salisbury Police Department for this conversation is a step forward in ensuring our community feels seen and heard,” Brooks said. “It’s an important opportunity to address the concerns of LGBTQ individuals and work towards a more inclusive and supportive environment in Salisbury.”

The Salisbury Police Department is one of 40 organizations across the state to receive the grant from the Duke Energy Foundation this year.

Additional conversations with other community groups are being planned throughout the remainder of 2024.