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Building Trust Between Police and Communities
Just as activists are working to improve relationships between
the police and the black communities they serve, so too are
police departments. Because of serious breakdowns in those
relationships, and the violence that has resulted from those
breakdowns, many police departments throughout the United
States are taking steps to address the problem. This was the
focus of an event called the Bridge Summit that was held in
Phoenix, Arizona, in September 2015. Six police chiefs (five of
whom were African American) from major US cities shared their
stories about what has worked in their communities. In addition
to Phoenix, the police chiefs were from Cleveland, Ohio; Denver,
Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia; Seattle, Washington; and Oakland,
California.
Of all the ways to build relationships between citizens and
police, the chiefs agreed that striving to have a racially diverse po-
lice force is a high priority. “With a disproportionately White, male
force,” says journalist Kim Covington, who attended the summit,
“police are doubling recruitment efforts” to fill open police depart-
ment positions “with more racial and cultural minorities as well
as women.”
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Police chiefs also talked about other practices that
have proved to be effective in their communities. In Denver, for in-
stance, police officers are trained to rethink whether enforcement
of a law is really necessary before issuing a ticket. Maybe decid-
ing not to issue a parking ticket, for instance, could help improve
relationships with citizens who assume police are going to harass
and/or arrest them.
The police chief from Atlanta spoke about a unique program
in his city. The police foundation raises money to give officers a
financial incentive to live in refurbished homes in the city at no
cost for two years. The thinking is that the more police officers
who live in the neighborhoods they serve and protect, the better
their community relationships will be. And in Oakland, police offi-
cers receive stress and fear training. This training can help officers
react more appropriately in stressful circumstances and help de-
escalate potentially volatile situations.
Notably, says Covington, not one of the strategies or programs
shared by the police chiefs involved weapons. “It was refreshing,”
she says, “to hear that at least these leaders are focusing on the
heart and the head of a police officer.”
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