CLEVELAND, TENN. Police seek bridges to community
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Cleveland police Chief Mark Gibson has publicly introduced his department’s new Community Relations Unit.
The Community Relations Unit, created in January, is responsible for reviewing policies, maintaining accreditation and handling duties associated with crime prevention, public relations and public information.
In a recent Cleveland City Council meeting, Gibson described the unit as “a bridge to our community.”
Lt. Scott Bronze has been appointed to lead the unit. Bronze joined the police department in 2001 and has served as its accreditation officer since 2008.
Gibson praised Bronze for his role in helping the department maintain its record of advanced accreditation certification through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
In 2015, the Cleveland Police Department achieved advanced accreditation for the third consecutive time. The voluntary program calls for participating agencies to undergo a comprehensive review every three years.
Sgt. Evie West, who joined the department in 2001 and has been its public information officer since 2008, is also part of the new community relations initiative.
“She keeps us in tune with the needs of the community,” said Gibson, citing her work in special events, including career fairs, training demonstrations and public relations.
One of the ways West reaches out to the community is through the Cleveland Police Department’s Facebook page, which she has administered since its launch one year ago.
“Facebook was one of our avenues to reach out to our community and let them be a part through posts and receiving information regarding what is going on in our city,” West said.
The department’s Facebook page recently announced the Community Relations Units’ first focused saturation efforts, conducted in the Green Drive/Horizon Square area over the weekend of Feb. 5-7.
“Ten Cleveland Police Department officers hit the streets last weekend and were highly visible and proactive in their attempts, focusing on this specific area of the city to deter crime and enforce the law,” West said in the post.
During the saturation effort, two arrests were made, including one involving narcotics charges made after a traffic stop, West said. Officers also issued 11 warnings and three citations, filed three reports and conducted five field interviews over the weekend period.
For the time being, the department will continue to use Facebook as its primary social media tool for communicating with the public, West said.
“We also have a Twitter account, but Facebook seems to be the more popular way of communication,” West said. “In the future, perhaps we will venture out to utilize other social media avenues to reach Cleveland and the different generations.”
She said the Community Relations Unit also will be responsible for hosting the police department’s second annual community showcase later this year. The first showcase, held last fall, received a very positive response, West said.
The council on Monday also regonized a number of recent police promotions at the meeting, and Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland swore in new officers.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach. press@gmail.com.