WM Police Department continues to focus on community outreach

WM Police Department continues to focus on community outreach

Crime reduction efforts include developing relationships with residents

news@theeveningtimes.com

Community policing has blossomed in West Memphis as Police Chief Donald Oakes led the department from a myopic focus on enforcement into a philosophy of addressing the root causes of crime. The DETER Zone along South Avalon served to drastically reduce crime. Part of the formula was increased police presence in the zone.

Operation DETER was more than a saturation patrol. It required officers to make regular interpersonal contact. It’s proven successful in opening relationships in the community.

Police have augmented the Community approach with a New Community Outreach Coordinator, Tawana Bailey.

Captain Robert Langston told the citizens academy he has seen a big shift in focus.

“We did not have much of a community outreach my first 20 years here,” said Langston. “We did not do a whole lot, maybe go out and talk to a school once in a while, or to Rotary. We knew outreach was something where we were deficient in our department and it was something we really needed to do. We started to build our community outreach with the citizens academy begun last year.

This year we hired Tawana as our Community Outreach Coordinator at the end of February. She hit the ground running and she is busy with big plans.”

Bailey, in the midst of her first summer with the department, said outreach is more than visiting school children in the classroom.

“My ultimate responsibility is to get information about West Memphis Police Department out to people,” said Bailey.

She believes many hands make work light and has already served as a clearing house putting those in need in touch with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, churches, and fraternal organizations to meet needs.

Officers have manned Community food giveaways to address hunger needs and mix with city residents. Bailey’s outreach includes a PACT (Police and Community Together).

Outreach events such as serving snow cones and interacting with the community at Freedom Fest, holding community meetings, working through the department’s citizen’s academy, Shop with Cops for Steudlein students at Christmas, Coffee with a Cop and Trunk or Treat, Easter egg hunts, all served to put the police into good light in the Community.

West Junior High students with strong reading achievements recently enjoyed a “shadow a cop” day with officer Singleton. Officers became good role models at Weaver Elementary too, participating in the MISTER (Men in Schools to Encourage Reading) program.

Who wouldn’t think of old Rusty the police mascot as a fun way to reach out?

When not in front of city citizens, Bailey writes newsletters and works community relations on social media. She touched on five keys elements to her community outreach plan. Rule number one is know your

audience. “You need to know the audience,

if you can’t assess

needs it will be hard to help” said Bailey. “It comes from meeting people.”

Engaging in-person is another key outreach element. “For example, I hate texting because you cannot see a persons face, “ said Bailey. “They may say something that is take completely opposite. But if we sit down and have a face to face conversation and we can agree to work together because there is a whole Community out there that needs us. It is going to take everybody. I won’t turn down suggestion; we just need to come together.”

The coordinator placed value on planning and anticipation.

“Be proactive, people will ask questions, so do research,” said Bailey who already conducted a handful of community forums.

“I think ahead to what this group may ask about my presentation, anticipate and have answers ready,” Being a bridge of trust by building Community partnerships is another touchstone for Bailey.

“We find creative, mutually beneficial ways to partner with those already existing serving the Community,” said Bailey.

“These organizations have already built trust between their members and those who influence. So, partnerships are our third party validation.”

Ultimately Bailey applies the philosophy that building relationships develops greater working trust between West Memphians and the police.

Look for her the next time you’re out at the next public

event in the city.

By John Rech