Community policing the key to Trenton revitalization
Let’s play word association. Actually, that’s not exactly what this exercise is about. It’s more like, you hear a phrase then offer a succinct response. Ready?
Community policing.
If we were all in one place or chat room, myriad answers would occur, simply because community policing has different meanings for many people. We can agree that the community policing concept attempts to improve relationships between police and community members.
Look a there, we all agree on that crystalized idea. Objectives may vary for the community and police relationship but at the end of the day, a basic tenet involves the creation of a partnership that benefits each party, almost like a marriage.
Ok, maybe marriage should not serve as an example since about half of them end up in divorce court. Maybe we can live with mutual partnership.
One definition identifies community policing as a philosophy of full service personalized policing, where the same officer patrols and works in the same area on a permanent basis, from a decentralized place, working in a proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems.
An Isles, Inc. newsletter described a National Night Out celebration “as an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.”
That’s an acceptable insight from a city organization that fosters selfreliant families and healthy, sustainable communities through a laundry list of initiatives to improve lives of citizens and thereby increasing human potential.
Myriad ways exist to build successful neighborhoods including the creation of community watch groups that communicate with police representatives, moving a new tenant into a vacant property, removing an automobile that’s been parked in one spot for three months, having a street sweeper deliver regular visits, planting trees and flowers, and the implementation of police walking beats when time allows.
Police walking beats causes friction in the city as excuses ramp about lacking manpower for such an exercise. If we know that walking improves relationships with residents and positively impacts neighborhoods then police should step out into Trenton.
Even when the city’s police department operated with a full staff, police did not walk beats despite overwhelming evidence of success. Reduced police levels sounds more like an excuse for not walking. My one block of Franklin St. would accept a police officer walking one 10-minute route a week.
National Night Out changes the dynamic between police, law enforcement agencies, government representatives and community members. If these interactions prove beneficial for one night then let’s go for the Full Monty.
Community policing exists not just for fighting crime because in the course of 24 hours numerous issues may occur that have no connection to crime. But let’s get back to that resident and police interaction that can shape the future for this potentially great City of Trenton.
This current relationship operates on the need principle as residents, who may be victims of crimes, require a response from law enforcement. Police can respond promptly or take their time, understanding that victims wait in that unenviable position of need.
“I called the police but nobody responded” and “I called the police several times and they came hours later” rank as repeated complaints against the city police force.
Everybody reading this column understands what happens in a relationship when one person gains a psychological, physical or emotional edge.
Police wield their dominant position knowing that residents must accept whatever responses they distribute. By the way, my stomach drops onto the hard pavement of South Warren St. any morning three or four police vehicles stand parked outside Starbucks.
The perception may not serve as reality but what our eyes see and hearts feel matters. We have violence, especially shootings and home invasions spiraling out of control and these coffee klatch police thumb their nose at residents. Drive over to Franklin St. and we can share a cup of Joe and stroll my block for five minutes.
Interim police Director Pedro Medina has his hands filled with what one friend described as “the detached culture” of the Trenton Police Department.
The observation sounds understandable, I mean, since most police reside in suburban communities then they have minimal investment in this city. The fact remains that dollars earned by Trenton police support suburban governments, provides expendable incomes that drive economic engines.
A recent breakfast meeting with Mayor Reed Gusciora, Medina, Capt. Stephen Varn, City Council President Kathy McBride and South Ward Councilman George Muschal included a conversation that hoped to convince city police to eat meals at restaurants and delis in Trenton.
Many police have distorted ideas about residents. Most citizens support them, pray for their safety and want a relationship that includes occasional visits to their communities, not as crime fighters but as people who understand our daily lives.
Trenton may not be their home, for some this place ranks as a place for a paycheck, but this city will never have a chance for revitalization unless police give a damn.
Soul singer Teddy Pendergrass produced a hit called “Somebody Loves You Back” where he describes a desire for a 50-50 relationship. It’s time that police and community meet each other half way.
Not talkin’ about 70-30. Not 6040. Talkin’ about a 50-50.