Building a strong relationship with
the community starts at a young age and
that is why the SMPD is devoted to its
Police Activities League (PAL). PAL is an
after school program that provides educational, cultural, fitness and recreational
programs for youth ages 6 - 17 years. It
is a unique community organization that
fosters trust between youth and the men
and women of the Santa Monica Police Department. With the motto “Our Community Starts Here” PAL Youth Center has an
abundance of enrichment and recreational
classes such as homework assistance,
computers, reading, college preparation,
biking, culinary arts, creative dramatics,
arts & crafts, dance, and basketball.
There are also many annual events
where the community has an opportunity
to see another side of their police department. For Chief Seabrooks that means
snuggling up to some kittens that are up
for adoption at SMPD’s Open House,
grooving to tunes played by the high
school marching band at National Night
Out or riding alongside Santa on the Annual Candy Cane Drive.
“These events give the community
a chance to see our officers in a different
light and creating and nurturing a community bond that is essential during times of
crisis,” explains Seabrooks.
An example of this was the June 7,
2013 active shooter incident where a gun-
man went on a rampage across the city,
killing five people before being shot by police at Santa Monica College. On that day
residents saw their officers dressed in full
SWAT gear, law enforcement officers from
throughout the region, including a Bell
Ranger helicopter landing on the college
campus, and the body of the gunman lying
on the sidewalk.
“We got no flack that day from the
community about militarization of the
police or how the crime scene was handled
because the community had faith in us and
understood what we were doing,” explains
Seabrooks. “Because our community knows
who we are and, on the whole, knows that
we are sensitive and respectful, they clearly
recognized that some things had to take
place due to operational necessity.”
“That event tested the resolve of
our department and our community,”
Seabrooks continues. “This is something
we had trained and prepared for, but
hoped would never happen. I am so proud
of how our officers handled this situation
and the amazing resiliency of the community in the aftermath.”
Moving forward in this time of
nation-wide mistrust of police, Chief
Seabrooks says that is not the prevailing
reality in her city.
“Santa Monica has long been hailed
as progressive and forward-thinking. And
as a police department we embody that as
well,” she says. “We have laid the ground
work of a strong relationship with our
community, one that we will continue to
foster and build upon.”
Across Santa Monica people tuned
into to CityTV 16 to see and hear from the
chief who spoke passionately, friendly and
knowledgably about the challenges police
departments face, and you could hear
from the voices of the callers that they feel
reassured, heard and respected.
“Crime is our priority and our reason
for existing,” Seabrooks says. “But community relations is right up there with
that. We can’t exist in a vacuum, our interactions with the community are essential
to how we gain our legitimacy and how
we gain the public’s trust.”
“Last caller,” the director says into his
microphone and the stage manager gives
the signal to wrap-it-up. Chief Seabrooks
congenially thanks the hosts and chats with
the crew as she heads out of the studio.
“The phrase is ‘Police are the community and the community is the police,’
says the Chief. “At the end of the day
it shows we have positive relationships
with our community. It doesn’t mean they
always agree with everything we do. But
when there is some kind of uncertainty,
urgency or tragedy, we know that we
have that goodwill bank to draw from
and know that ultimately the voice of
reason will prevail.” ■
SPRING 2015 | California Police Chief
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