One of the concrete outcomes, Halifax County NAACP President David Harvey said in his statement, was the city will accept a recommendation from the organization to have one of its members serve on a panel to review applicants for the currently open position of Roanoke Rapids police chief.

“We had a positive exchanged of views. We don’t see eye to eye on everything. But on the big picture there is agreement that we have some problems and we can do better,” Harvey said in the statement. “The tasing incident tore off the scab of a festering wound in race relations. We hope to contribute to the healing necessary for city and county to move forward.”

Harvey said another consensus from the meeting was that more diversity in the police force and other positions in city government is desirable. “This is a good beginning. We were also encouraged that city leaders are open to more dialogue with us. While we have not yet set a date for the next meeting, we have decided to continue talking.”

City Manager Joseph Scherer said in a statement city officials felt the meeting and the dialogue was constructive. “Mayor (Emery) Doughtie felt it was important for everyone to recognize the city does value its rich cultural, ethnic, racial and religious diversity while promoting a respectful and cohesive community. Both groups agreed that further dialogue on these issues is important and future meetings would be held to continue the discussions on these issues.”

Those attending on behalf of the county chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People included Harvey, the Reverend C.E. McCollum, who is chair of the Halifax County Black Caucus, Gary Grant, who is executive director of Concerned Citizens of Tillery, and John Espenshade, political action chair of the NAACP.

They sat down with Doughtie, Councilman Carl Ferebee, Scherer and City Attorney Gilbert Chichester.

The meeting was prompted by a request from the NAACP and fueled by Roanoke Rapids police officers' use of a stun gun on a 15-year-old, who several media reports say has autism, as well as claims by a man named Eric Short a police officer put a gun to his head after witnessing him spit on his patrol car.

Public disclosure of the meeting came during Tuesday night's city council, where the stun matter was discussed as well as the issue of school boundary lines within the city limits.

“City officials agreed to meet with them to discuss issues the representatives had raised regarding diversity and inclusiveness perceptions in the city,” Scherer said in the statement.