Lufkin Leaders Respond to Fort Worth Columnist’s Harsh Criticism of City

In Sunday’s edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and available online, columnist Bud Kennedy wrote that Lufkin is "the shame of America", because of a recent incident in which a man was found guilty of resisting arrest in his own home, after police mistook him for a burglar.

Suffice it to say, a lot of people in Lufkin don't agree with Kennedy's assessment.

Lufkin Mayor Jack Gorden says it's unfortunate that people outside the community are criticizing the entire city over an isolated police incident, even though they have no understanding of what actually happened.

As for Kennedy's criticism of Lufkin Police, Gorden says “this department has as much public confidence as any community in Texas based on their professionalism, training and their involvement in the community."

Gorden says Lufkin has been designated the No. 1 "Micropolitan Community" in Texas, because it's the hub for a population base approaching 400,000 in the nine-county region, leading in jobs, retail sales and health care services.  He also points out Outdoor Life Magazine has put Lufkin on its list of the top 100 places in the country to live and raise a family.

Jerry Huffman, President of the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, says Lufkin is a generous and giving community. Huffman says Lufkin people get things done, "whether it’s the County Exposition Center of the Ellen Trout Zoo or whatever...money is raised and the project takes off.  That’s what this community is all about.”

According to the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lufkin has the fifth fastest growing retail sector in the state.  The United Way says Lufkin is the largest per-capita giving city in the state.  Last year alone, individuals and businesses in Angelina County contributed more than $660,000 to United Way, easily surpassing the $540,000 goal.

via Columnist calls Lufkin 'shame of America'; city leaders beg to differ - The Lufkin Daily News: Local & State.

The man at the center of this story was charged with resisting arrest. The jury found that even though he was in his own home, he did resist being arrested, so they had to find him guilty even though they felt that the man had been wronged by police.

The man has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Lufkin Police and the City of Lufkin.

You can read Bud Kennedy's column for yourself in the online edition of Sunday"s Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

via 'Unfortunate' mistake by officers makes Lufkin the shame of America | Bud Kennedy | Fort Wort....

Do you think it's fair to judge an entire city over a single incident?