One way of strengthening police/community relations is to fund PAL and similar programs

[tulipsandroses]

For those not familiar

National PAL
The World's Foremost Leader in Engaging Kids, Cops & Community

The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League, Inc. exists to aid in the preventing of juvenile crime and violence by providing mentorship, civic/service, athletic, recreational, enrichment and educational opportunities and resources to PAL Membership Chapters. As a membership based organization, National PAL seeks to provide its Chapters with resources and opportunities to aid them within their organizational growth, as well as, to assist them within their pursuits of showcasing their unique programs and enhance the quality of individual youth engagement experiences.

[link:https://www.nationalpal.org/aboutus|

-- With some changes made to the mission. Take the focus off preventing juvenile crime. Make it about community engagement. Make it a mandatory part of the job. Or incentivize participation.

My son attended a PAL program one summer that I was broke, short on funds to send him to a paid summer program. It was a positive experience. They took neighborhood kids to the circus, blocked off neighborhood streets, played baseball, football with the kids and even opened the fire hydrant so the kids could cool off. This was 20 years ago in NYC. The following summer, PAL did not operate in my neighborhood. They had no funds.

Far too many police officers have no skin in the game. They don't know the people in the communities they serve. Communities see them as enforcers, state sanctioned terrorists. They in turn, all too often, cannot see the humanity of the people that pay to keep them employed.
They do not see black children, as children. Two black 13 year old boys fighting in the street can end up being a life changing experience. Arrested and sent to jail for something that would not happen with 2 white 13 year old boys fighting in their neighborhood.

As a health care provider, the most important tool in my tool box, is building rapport with patients. You can't have buy in without that.
Policing should be the same way. You need to build a rapport with the community.

I think this would go such a long way to not only building relationships with the communities, but may also have a significant impact on crime in areas where there is high crime. People are more likely to open up to you, if they have some kind of trust or relationship.

If you are engaged in the community. Know the local folks, it would be a lot easier to de-escalate situations. You would be able to see people as more than a threat, even on a day that may be one of the worst days of their lives. Use the rapport and good will to de-escalate and keep the peace.
Just a thought that I hope is being pursued in some way.

[Scrivener7]

1. I used to work with a colleague. Very highly educated,

successful, great at her job, happy family.

She came from a truly horrible area of the Bronx, had no security of any kind growing up. She always said PAL gave her a place to go and people to count on. She credited them for her happy life.

But that was a generation ago. You don't see much of them any more.

[crickets]

2. This sounds like a good means to bring police & community together in a positive way. nt

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. If the cops are the problem, why would I want my kids hanging out with them?

Why would I need an abuser to hang out with my kids to have them not see my kids as a threat?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Excellent! Appreciate a rare constructive idea!

[Hortensis]

5. Charity Navigator says 92.5% of donations go to its programs,

a hands-on way of putting caring to work.

[FrankChurchDem]

6. I work with a few PALs professionally

Nothing but good things to say.