Advancing 21 st Century Policing: The Arlington Police Department Report to the Community
PILLAR 1: BUILDING TRUST AND LEGITIMACY
The Arlington Police Department engages in community policing every day to prevent crime, build trust and strengthen relationships. The department works in partnership with its residents, citizen volunteers and the business community to reduce crime. When it comes to public safety, nothing is more important than trust and mutual respect between police officers and the community we serve and protect.
PILLAR 1
Examples of trust-building and legitimacy:
Procedural justice in policing The Arlington Police Department has made procedural justice an important component of its training curriculum. Procedural justice in policing is the framework that promotes positive change, partnership building and problem solving. Procedural justice exists when there is fairness, voice, transparency and impartiality. Police officers, new recruits, civilian staff and citizen volunteers are all learning how the process can lead to an improved perception of safety, stronger public confidence in the police and an active, more engaged community.
Acknowledging past and present injustices The Arlington Police Department has partnered with Cornerstone Baptist Church and local clergy leaders to host Dr. John Perkins in conversations about the transforming power of positive police / community relations. Dr. Perkins is a world class author and iconic civil rights leader. This was the first in a series of community conversations planned by APD to address racial reconciliation, hate crimes and violence. Arlington officers are actively involved in programs led by the Arlington branch of the NAACP, the UT Arlington student branch of the NAACP, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee and many other efforts that serve to unite and inform the community.
Initiating positive non-enforcement activities Arlington officers are mentors. They have been leading programs like the Police Activities League( PAL Camp) and Police Explorers for many years, but a number of new initiatives have more officers involved in non-enforcement activities across the city. The Mentoring Arlington Youth program( MAY Program) and the Coach 5-0 program for student athletes are helping to build trust. Officers have also strengthened the Unidos program, an outreach effort focused on serving the Spanish speaking segment of our community. Unidos means“ to unite and serve.” This program along with the success of the Citizen Police Academy, including academies for high school students and Spanish-speaking participants, are other examples of successful non-enforcement activities involving officers.
Procedural justice training is for everyone.
A community conversation on race relations.
Officer connects with student athletes.
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