Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Trenton still needs a better relationship with police
A personal belief remains committed to the reestablishment of foot patrols for city police officers.
Seeing all those law enforcement officers on the ground last week during a barricade situation in the South Ward, rekindled a desire for daily positive interaction between police and community although not in such desperate terms. Police must respond when an angry man kills an innocent bystander then takes refuge inside a house, although witnessing the amount of troops, many with military weapons, displayed law enforcement’s unnerving preparedness for urban warfare.
The 35-hour standoff felt like overkill as a negotiator eventually convinced murder suspect Tyleeb Reese to surrender.
Furthermore, law enforcement and government officials should review all circumstances leading up to the incident, including procedures involved while members of a special task force attempted to serve a warrant.
Home visits, especially those that involve domestic violence and warrant issuances, remain dangerous situations as police officers deal with the great unknown. What’s behind the front door? Or who lurks behind a closet or bedroom door? Could they be armed?
Foot patrols would not have changed the dynamics of the Reese incident but most city residents agree that police need interaction to build healthy relationships that cultivate respect and enhances public safety.
This point materializes at the Trenton train station where daily commuters receive protection and find interaction with New Jersey Transit police officers.
Travelers, as well as many homeless people, exchange greetings with officers as daily contact builds a level of respect necessary for successful public safety initiatives.
Of course, overseeing a train station of mostly professional passersby requires different strategies than patrolling city streets.
Still, a core message deals with development of communications so that familiarity breeds respect and when necessary leads to accurate information regarding solving or the prevention of crime.
As usual, city leaders make promises about community policing, especially about putting officers on foot patrol, then renege on their plans.
Mayor Eric Jackson and Police Director Ernie Parrey, Jr. deliver an exhausted excuse that a downsized force makes impossible assigning officers to hit the pavement.
If police can exit their vehicles daily for walks into a South Warren St. deli then one can imagine they have at least the potential to stroll through neighborhoods.
Police and politicians appear in our neighborhood on National Night Out in August then return a year later as their visits make for great photo ops but almost nothing develops from the one-night stand.
A compelling insight about the barricade incident involved a question offered to television crews by a young resident.
“How come y’all only show up when something bad is going on? You don’t show up when something positive is happening in Trenton,” he said.
This “same time next year” strategy appears almost disingenuous as these one-and-done visits fail to cultivate trust.
Franklin St. residents will settle for a weekly visit from city police officers.
Despite this notion that people stand against law enforcement, public safety officers and prosecutors they will find that most of us support their mission to protect and serve.
If police spent time in our lives and on our streets they would make a remarkable discovery.. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@ trentonian.com. Follow on Twitter@ laparker6.