Loretta Lynch: Community policing can make us all safer
By Loretta E. Lynch October 3 at 6:36 PM
Loretta E. Lynch is attorney general of the United States.
Recent incidents in Charlotte, Tulsa and El Cajon, Calif., were just the latest in a long series of events that have left Americans feeling saddened, angry and confused about the meaning of justice in the United States. These high-profile traumas — which include the tragic officer-involved deaths of civilians and appalling, premeditated attacks on police officers — have laid bare the fault lines of mistrust that too often separate law enforcement and communities of color.
As attorney general of the United States, one of my top priorities has been bridging the divides between police and citizens. I firmly believe that all of us — law enforcement officers, activists and ordinary citizens alike — have a role to play in closing those rifts and repairing the fabric of our society. The Justice Department has been tirelessly pursuing that goal in a number of ways. We dispatch mediators to assist with tense situations, provide local law enforcement agencies with training and technical assistance, and, when necessary, investigate allegations of unconstitutional policing. Our work to restore trust takes many forms, but it is all closely tied to the principles of community policing.
Community policing is a public safety philosophy based on partnership and cooperation. At its core is the idea that everyone has a stake in the safety of the neighborhoods where we live and work, and that none of us, police or citizen, can make them safe on our own. Community policing uses our shared interest as the foundation for deeper understanding, mutual respect and closer partnership. In practice, community policing encourages officers and citizens to communicate regularly, to share concerns and collaborate on solutions, and, above all, to get to know one another as people rather than stereotypes.
And it works. I know, because I’ve seen the results. Shortly after taking office, I began a 12-city Community Policing Tour to learn what municipalities around the country are doing to foster trust and cooperation. I was inspired and encouraged by what I saw. In Cincinnati, I witnessed officers spending time in local classrooms as tutors and mentors in safe and supportive settings for kids. I observed cutting-edge de-escalation training in Phoenix, where officers were taught how to exercise restraint in ambiguous situations. And in Fayetteville, N.C., I learned about the police chief’s youth advisory council, which gives local high school students a meaningful role in shaping their city’s policing practices and policies.
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