Douglas County Sheriff walks back threats to no longer respond to Library's emergency calls due to Black Lives Matter support

UPDATE 6:23PM: On July 28, 2020 the Douglas County Library Director Amy Dodson and Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley met to discuss the Douglas County Public Library’s proposed statement of diversity. The library board was scheduled to discuss the statement at a public meeting scheduled for July 28, 2020. Sheriff Coverley submitted a written letter for public comment in opposition of the statement.

“Sheriff Coverley and I had a very candid conversation about the statement and we both expressed our opinions regarding the intent of our exchanged correspondence,” said Dodson. “We agreed that we both support the people of Douglas County and this may have been an unfortunate circumstance of misunderstanding. The library respects and supports the work of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and appreciates everything they do to keep our community safe.”

The proposed diversity statement verbiage can be found here. http://douglascountynv.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=3085&In...

“I am passionate about and proud of the work the Sheriff’s Office does for all members of this community,” said Sheriff Coverley. “This has been a difficult time to be a law enforcement professional and can be disheartening when we perceive that our office may be under attack. My response was rooted in my belief that these issues need to be openly discussed in a way that values diversity and law enforcement.”

The Douglas County Library has actively cancelled the board meeting where the item was up for discussion, and it will be rescheduled. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

For more information on the Douglas County Library visit: https://library.douglascountynv.gov/

For more information on the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office visit: https://sheriff.douglascountynv.gov/
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In a controversial open letter to the Douglas County Library Board, Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley threatened to no longer respond to 911 calls from the library due to a proposed support of Black Lives Matter in a board meeting agenda packet.

In the letter, which can be read in its entirety here, the Sheriff denounces Black Lives Matter as a violent organization, and discusses how the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office “make it a priority to treat all persons with respect regardless of race, gender or cultural differences.”

However, immediately after this statement, Coverley states: “To support this movement is to support violence and to openly ask for it to happen in Douglas County. Due to your support of Black Lives Matter and the obvious lack of support or trust with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, please do not feel the need to call 911 for help. I wish you good luck with disturbances and lewd behavior, since those are just some of the recent calls my office has assisted you with in the past.”

The refusal to respond to emergency calls based on political beliefs is in direct opposition of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that all persons should be granted equal protection under the law.

The reason Sheriff Coverley made the statement against the Library is due to an agenda item on the Douglas County Library Board’s meeting agenda which was in reference to upholding social equality.

The proposed amendment to the diversity statement is as follows:

“Everyone is welcome at the Douglas County Libraries. We offer free and equal access to information, services and and programs to everyone regardless of race, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, political persuasion, disability, status, national origin or income level. Public libraries change lives and create opportunities for all those who inquire.

The Douglas County Public Library denounces all acts of violence, racism and disregard for human rights. We support Black Lives Matter. We resolutely assert and believe that all forms of racism, hatred, inequality and injustice don’t belong in our society.

The Douglas County Public Library joins the American Library Association and the Urban Libraries Council in condemning violence and racism towards Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We are steadfastly dedicated to equality, freedom to read, and freedom of expression. For that reason we have joined more than 170 public libraries across North America in signing the Urban Libraries Council’s Statement on Race and Social Equity.

Together we can move toward change and progress so that everyone may live and thrive surrounded by the kindness, support, and safety of our community.”

The library makes no mention of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, defunding the police, or any other political movements.

Following the letter from the Sheriff, the Board cancelled their meeting.

After news of Coverley’s letter began gaining attention on social media, a follow up press release was issued on Tuesday morning:

In response to a proposed Douglas County Library Agenda Item dated for July 28, 2020, Sheriff Coverley issued the following letter as public comment to the Douglas County Library:
 
https://sheriff.douglascountynv.gov/news/what_s_new/letter_to_library_bo...
 
It is our understanding that the library board meeting has been cancelled.  At this time, we are having active conversations with the Library Director to try and understand the intent of their proposed diversity statement.
 
Sheriff Coverley would also like to take this opportunity to clarify that the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will continue to respond to all 911 calls, including those at the Library. “My response to the Library’s proposed agenda item was to provide public comment about their proposed diversity statement and to further provide open commentary about how this could affect our local law enforcement profession.”

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office stands by their value statement and they will, “Continue to fairly and impartially apply laws and ordinances without regard to race, color, creed, sex, or station in life. We shall honor the public trust issued and shall hold ourselves to the highest standards of professional police conduct and treat all individuals with tolerance, compassion, and dignity. We shall provide quality, empathetic, responsive, and professional service to the citizens and visitors of our community. We have a responsibility to provide service, leadership, guidance, and protection to our citizens, who in a partnership with us, strive to make our community a safer and more pleasant place to live.”

According to Nevada ACLU's Director of Communication and Outreach Wesley Juhl, the Sheriff does not understand what Black Lives Matter is.

“The sheriff’s statements are really disturbing. Not only is there a clear lack of understanding of what the Black Lives Matter movement represents, but for a police officer to threaten to withhold services to anyone is unconscionable. And let’s be clear that this is just a library district trying to create a space for the community that welcomes everyone.”

Juhl also stated that the sheriff's statement regarding data is incorrect.

"It’s also worth noting that the sheriff’s claim that “data simply does not support claims that law enforcement is systemically racist or structurally biased” is highly questionable. An ACLU report released in April shows that a Black person is 21 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white person in Douglas County, which has the highest racial discrepancies in the state. (Nevada data is collected on page 77: https://www.aclu.org/report/tale-two-countries-racially-targeted-arrests...) "

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Calls to the Nevada Attorney General’s Office has not been returned in regards to this incident.