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“And it’s not just because we’re lucky that those things and riots and burning down the town didn’t happen,” McClelland said. “It’s because we have open communication and regular dialogue before some of these controversial incidents happen.”
McClelland said rhetoric for violence against law enforcement comes from a small group within certain movements.
“Black Lives movement is about holding police accountable for police overstepping their authority, but sometimes you will have extremists that will latch on to a non-violent positive movement and folks that don’t have a good grasp on reality will seek that out and that will be their mission,” he said.
The chief said Houston is a city where minorities are a 53 percent majority in the police force.
“And they come from our neighborhoods! Their parents and grandparents still live in the neighborhood They have a connection already,” McClelland said.
Chief McClelland was a guest on Houston Matters.
Houston Matters full interview