Rethinking Policing

[HitRed]

1. It is hard to build a relationship with a community from an speeding SUV on the road or in a neighborhood. Bring back bike patrols. People love to see, meet and interact with people.

2. My city recently started door-to-door visits by police. The officer (in full uniform) had a clipboard and a survey to get people talking. In 22 years I had never had a conversation with an officer. Suddenly we are talking about rules, city council and pet safety. That kind of interaction is gold and should be continued yearly. I have had this happen twice so far.

3. K-9 units are great ambassadors. If a K-9 unit were to walk down my street the neighborhood the kids would drop their iPhones and hug it.

4. Welcome to the Team! - In my city Graduating HS seniors that are entering: fire, police or EMS training get a mini parade by their home. The last one was 13 city vehicles that included fire trucks, police and the dog catcher.

5. Perception is Reality! Lastly, police and police vehicles look too menacing. This is likely by design to send a message but is also keeps the community away too.

[mrswdk]

It all comes down to your philosophy of what the role of the police is. Are they member of the community or are they an external force imposed on the community? In the US they seem to be almost entirely the latter.

As you say, American police run very few foot or even bike patrols - it's just a bunch of guys with guns swooping around town in their patrol cars, upgrading to trucks full of armed militiamen whenever an actual crime is dialled in. Which means the only time they really interact with regular citizens is when they're putting cuffs on them. And the lack of any real chance for interaction between the two groups feeds into a situation where a) civilians don't trust the police and b) the police don't trust civilians.

According to American TV programmes, when the US invades other countries its army seems to (these days at least) take some vague care to try and engage with the local communities in order to build trust between the army and the population (with varying degrees of success). The US army in Baghdad is probably more trusted than the US police in Chicago. Sad.

[HitRed]

One city set up a police booth downtown. Used an old snow cone stand. 3 officers were inside to answer questions. No policing just an opportunity to chat.

[mookiemcgee]

No policing just an opportunity to chat.

This is how they convince you to talk without your lawyer present haha.

[Dukasaur]

Lots of good ideas.

I would also like to see more reliance on part-time constables. I think having an all-professional police force encourages an "us vs. them" mentality. Obviously a core of professionals is needed, but I would like to see a lot more use of people who are not career cops. I think this would help with community integration.

Civilian oversight boards need to be smaller and more community-based. Police commissions in large cities are too far divorced from local communities.

[riskllama]

Lots of good ideas.

I would also like to see more reliance on part-time constables. I think having an all-professional police force encourages an "us vs. them" mentality. Obviously a core of professionals is needed, but I would like to see a lot more use of people who are not career cops. I think this would help with community integration.

Civilian oversight boards need to be smaller and more community-based. Police commissions in large cities are too far divorced from local communities.

i have had first hand experience w/just such an organization when i was living in Calgary : my truck was in the shop & somebody had stolen
the license plate off it & was using it on another vehicle. one of these part-timers showed up at my door to explain the situation & return my plate to me. we ended up discussing his role for a few minutes before we both carried on w/our day. remember thinking at the time that it wasn't a bad idea at all...

[saxitoxin]

No to part-time policing. There are police reserves in many departments but if you make wide use of them the first time someone gets shot the media and SJWs scream "XYZ department's inexperienced, less trained, weekend warrior cops are a threat to the public." This is what happened to the Auxiliaries of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and is the reason the PSNI only employs full-time police now.

No to more foot patrols. This works in dense, urban areas, but most of America doesn't have a geography suited to foot patrols. It would be inefficient.

No to door to door visits. Most people don't want unannounced visits by uniformed police at their home.

No to changing the livery of police vehicles. In the 1970s Menlo Park began dressing their police in blazers. Within 18 months there had been a two-fold increase in the number of assaults on police officers. Criminals must fear the police and part of that is projecting a hard image.

No to making Chicago police more friendly. Chicago is a hellscape on the verge of collapse with the highest murder rate in America. The only thing keeping total chaos from erupting is the threat that, if the Democrats and Ganglords take it further, they will face the roar of shrapnel and whine of machine guns.

No to everything. No no no no no.

[HitRed]

In before the "NO" ban

[jimboston]

It all comes down to your philosophy of what the role of the police is. Are they member of the community or are they an external force imposed on the community? In the US they seem to be almost entirely the latter.

As you say, American police run very few foot or even bike patrols - it's just a bunch of guys with guns swooping around town in their patrol cars, upgrading to trucks full of armed militiamen whenever an actual crime is dialled in. Which means the only time they really interact with regular citizens is when they're putting cuffs on them. And the lack of any real chance for interaction between the two groups feeds into a situation where a) civilians don't trust the police and b) the police don't trust civilians.

Hmmm, I grew up in an American City, and that wasn’t my experience.

Interacted with police frequently as a kid.

I think your generalizations are wrong... I think people have a wide variety of interactions with police, some good some bad.

It’s funny how you seems to know so much about culture here in the USA on the ground in real life... even though you’re not from here and don’t live here. Interesting.

[mrswdk]

I Interacted with police frequently as a kid.

Unsurprising.

[jimboston]

I Interacted with police frequently as a kid.

Unsurprising.

That’s the best you can do?

Funny how you ignored the point about how you seem to know and understand American culture better than natives.
That’s a bit presumptuous no? I think I’ve seen you criticize Americans for doing the exact same thing.