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"Mayor William Bell and Police Chief A.C. Roper are promising residents that they are doing everything they can to prevent what happened in Dallas.The two held a news conference Friday morning to discuss community-police relations, just hours after a shooter gunned down five police officers and cited anger over recent law enforcement shootings as motivation for the crime.\"I think we are at a pivotal moment for law enforcement in this nation. I think we have to look at what we're doing,\" Roper said.The two men talk about improving officers' relationship with the community. Roper said Birmingham is leading the nation in its efforts.\u201COur police department was on the wrong side of history for so many years, but now we're trying to do the things to make sure we're one of the leaders across this nation,\u201D Roper said.That desire to improve community relations continues Friday night, as the National Action network in Birmingham is organizing a march to protest the recent shootings of two African-American men in Louisiana and Minnesota.\"We need to make sure that protestors are safe as they walk down the street. And we need to make sure that people that don't have that same mindset can't disrupt it and cause harm to the citizens and our officers,\" Roper said.The event is being touted as a peaceful protest -- just like the one planned in Dallas, before a sniper ambushed officers assigned to protect protestors.\"You won't see a militarized situation, but I can assure the public that the chief will do all that he can to make sure the protestors will come in peace and leave in peace,\" Bell said.Organizers plan to hold a candlelight vigil for the fallen Dallas officers during tonight's protest."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wvtm13.com/article/birmingham-mayor-police-chief-speak-on-community-police-relations/3836883>