Policing & Criminal Justice Recommendations | 2021 Report
Concern or Issue
There is a deep divide between Arlington’ s youth and police.
Some Arlington police officers are not as well educated about or connected with the communities they patrol.
Stress can put police officers’ mental and emotional health at risk and therefore it may prevent them from carrying out their responsibilities as public servants and healthy citizens.
Recommendation
Short term
• Expand the Police Athletic League to include sporting activities throughout the entire school year.
Medium term
• Build upon the police ride-along program to include students and young adults.
Long term
• Start a program to connect K-12 students with Arlington Police Department( APD) related to similar interests or hobbies.
Short term
• Pair new officers with officers of a different race and background and directly engage with communities of a different race in their districts.
Medium term
• Create a plan to encourage patrol officers to attend community events, patronize diverse restaurants, meet with different community leaders and make connections with residents.
Long term
• Create an immersion program for officers to connect to the communities they serve; suggestions include having officers live in their beat for one week and connect with HOAs and other organizations that serve the area.
Short term
• Revised psychological program to include racially diverse professionals; survey APD about adequacy of current program and implement indicated changes.
Medium term
• Schedule regular psychological evaluations for all officers such as an evaluation administered every 3-5 years and a mandatory evaluation after a traumatic event; consider hiring a full time APD chaplain as a part of this process.
Unity Council Report 2023 83