Finally, finals are done with and I can get back to my
routine at least for a couple weeks. And, fair warning this is going to be a
soap box sort of column today. Tomorrow will be a more personal one. Now, last week the Justice Department’s
Review of the Baltimore Police Department came out. I can’t say I am surprised
about the results that show that the department has a problem when it comes to
policing African- Americans. But, that does not mean I am giving up on the
department and saying the situation is hopeless. It’s going to take some work,
but the department can be fine-tuned to being a respectable police department
that can be a shining example for the country.
First you have to root out any of the problem people in
the leadership. The ones promoting bad policing. Those that make it hard to
report problems and encourage using too much force. As well as those who
encourage racial profiling, which has been proven not to work. You have to have a strong leadership that
believes in what you are trying to accomplish or it is not going to succeed.
This is part of the foundation you are building. Once leadership is in order you start
encouraging people to start filing complaints and building their trust again
within the department.
Second thing is to get officers a bit loosened up and
interacting with the communities they police on a friendlier basis as if they
actually belong to the neighborhood and are not just wardens there. Get them
eating from the local eateries and talking with the local people about what is
going on in the neighborhood. Playing around with the kids when they have some free
time. Even helping with homework if they can if it is being done outside. In
general, setting a good example for kids to follow as well as adults and being
part of the community. It helps build trust and comradery between the community
and the officers who police it. It will
take time but stick to it.
Third as the fine tuning is going on invite the public to
be part of the process. Hold meetings for the public to comment on what is
working and not working. Make them feel and be part of the fine tuning process.
The more the public feels they are heard the happier they will be with the
outcome of the fine tuning. And, the end result you are looking for is the
public trusting and being happy with its police department once more. The public
doesn’t want crime in their streets but they also don’t want cops treating them
like second class citizens. They want a police force that inspires confidence
and trust among the citizens. As well as feels like part of the community.
Fourth and final but not least, implement these changes
in how future cops are trained. Including what they reach for first in a need
for force situation. Teach them de-escalation tactics strongly. Make them train
longer if it gets you better officers. Make sure you are only getting the best
people to be officers. That is what you want for your police department after
all. I don’t mean make them robots, but make sure they can handle the day to
day rigors of the job. They can still be human but we don’t want them losing
their cool under pressure either. It’s fine if they need to talk to someone
after a situation, but they need to be able to handle the situation at the time
they are dealing with it. Remember this is about building for the future.
I’ll climb off m soap box for now, but I can foresee this
being a continuing issue for the foreseeable future. Feel free to leave
questions and comments below. Share this column with all your friends and
family please. As for me I am going to do some reading and call it a day. I
apologize for this being so late was a long day. *Tips his hat and walks out
the door. *
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