In The Community
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS STRENGTHENING BONDS
BETWEEN POLICE AND THE PUBLIC
BY JOHN MAXWELL , SECRETARY , PLEA
In an effort to break down walls between police officers and their community members , community policing is on the rise . This approach to policing emphasizes the importance of the partnership between officers and the citizens they serve . When it ’ s made clear that everyone is responsible for the safety and comfort of the community , collaboration is more easily achieved , area residents are more satisfied with the service provided by local officers , and public safety actually increases .
In order for policing to be successful , a mutual level of trust , respect , and understanding must exist between officers and community members . Unfortunately , the links between police departments and community members can be riddled with negative experiences and decades of mistrust that need to be repaired . Promisingly , a recent study found that a single , positive , non-enforcement-related interaction improved the legitimacy of police forces and enhanced the public ’ s willingness to cooperate with police .
Community outreach is the best way to naturally open the door to nonenforcement -elated interactions between police officers and residents . Community outreach programs can look different from one city to the next ; different community dynamics will create different outreach needs .
If police officers can take the time to understand how to connect with their community , invest in community outreach programs , and continue to build personal , meaningful connections , the benefits of community policing can come to the forefront of every community .
COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN PRACTICE
Community outreach isn ’ t a new concept ; some people might remember D . A . R . E . programs , holiday events with officers , or even 1x1 mentoring initiatives , and many of those are still alive today . PLEA Charities builds upon that concept and some of the outreach programs that we ’ ve seen succeed are :
SHOP WITH A COP
Shop with a Cop is a national community outreach program that pairs officers with children in the community . The duos then have a
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