In the wake of several tragedies last week, state leaders are calling on communities and police departments to come together to denounce violence and racial injustice and to pledge to work toward a safer, more peaceful Rhode Island.

On Friday, Gov. Gina Raimondo hosted a press conference at the West End Recreation Center in Providence with police and community leaders to discuss not only recent incidents but also how to move forward as a state to combat similar violence.

Two African American citizens – Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota – were shot and killed by police last week, sparking protests and outrage nationwide. Then, in Dallas, Texas, a gunman shot and killed five police offices and injured several others during a protest.

“I thought it was important we come together as a community after this week of violence,” Raimondo said. “It is sad that we have almost become accustomed to news like this. Although we are accustomed to it, we cannot become callous to this type of tragedy.”

She said Rhode Islanders must stand against violence and stand with the families of Sterling, Castile and the fallen officers, saying each of the incidents was tragic.

Although she agreed that police departments across the state have been good about collaborating and working closely with the communities they serve, she said Rhode Islanders must “recommit” to taking proactive steps to further strengthen community relations.

Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Col. Steven O’Donnell agreed, cautioning that just because Rhode Island currently hasn’t seen the same caliber of violence as in other places, a situation similar to one in Dallas could still happen. He said all could benefit from continuing programs that bring police departments closer to the communities they serve.

“These men and women in uniform bleed, breathe and think like you,” O’Donnell said. “In my professional opinion, we can do a great job of coming together as a community to end this violence.”

Closer to home, Warwick Chief of Police Col. Stephen McCartney, head of the Warwick Police Department did not justify the killings of Sterling and Castile, but said those incidences shouldn’t be used as to “demonize” all police departments.

“By and large, departments across the country are doing good work in their communities and regularly reaching out to minority communities, working beside them without tragic incidences,” McCartney said.

Overall, he believes Rhode Island, and especially Warwick, doesn’t see the same type of concerns as elsewhere. He said that the city doesn’t hear many complaints of a “racial nature” and has a far different dynamic between the department and minority populations. Many of the concerns addressed by the Warwick department are “neighborhood issues” rather than racial disparities.

That is not to say it “couldn’t happen here,” McCartney said, as police are being “targeted,” and there is “heightened tension” between departments and the communities they serve. This tension is at the “root” of the violence as viral videos have inspired anti-police sentiment in citizens.

“We are all being called to task for events that happened far from Rhode Island, and although they are unfortunate we can be quick to condemn all police,” McCartney said.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse commended Rhode Island law enforcement for actively working to better relations with the community at large. He noted that if more departments nationwide handled themselves as Rhode Island’s do, the country “would be in a better place and see fewer of these incidents.”

“This is a difficult moment. We do not know all the facts as of yet, but we do know this – Sterling and Castile did not deserve to die. Neither did the officers shot in the line of duty that served and protected their community until their last breath,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said. “We need justice in these moments to move forward. We cannot continue to ignore the racial disparities in our country. We need to come together to ensure our officers are well trained and accountable. We will not surrender to violence. We need stand more united than ever.”

Jim Vincent, head of the Providence chapter of the NAACP, said Rhode Islanders must condemn racism, bigotry, and the shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Dallas. Although he is happy Rhode Island is making strides in terms of the relationship between police departments and the community, he said this is not the time for “complacency” but a time to be “vigilant” and continue working toward sensible gun control, and to address racial disparities and injustice.

“We need to say, ‘Not in our state.’ We must acknowledge racism continues and root it out. We must condemn violence against police, but understand that the violence against the African American community is reprehensible, that black lives do matter,” Vincent said.

A community leader in Providence, Kobi Dennis said to prevent similar violence taking place in Rhode Island, all must “do our jobs.” For citizens, that means fighting to break down the racial divide. For politicians, he said the job is to recognize racial disparities and put forth policy changes. For police, he said the job is to get to know the constituents they serve.

Raimondo said it will take a collective effort to put an end to violence and “we all have a role to play.” She said both law enforcement and members of communities of color all deserve to come home safe at the end of the day, and that both have her full commitment.

“Let’s commit to being a community that rejects violence and poverty, and embraces diversity and civility. I believe we can be bolder. I believe that our families, neighborhoods, state, and country can do better, and I believe we can move forward together,” she said.