What is a personal experience or best practice you have seen around community engagement and law enforcement?
Chicago police officers were riding horseback through our neighborhood the other day, stopping and talking to children, after they had been at a community event at a local church.
We thought what a great way to build day-to-day engagement with the community.
I’ve since heard about a Police Department in St. Louis that built a playground for a nearby community–not the one the department served, but one that needed a playground. I Grow Chicago has been hosting monthly Healing Circles with members of the community and Chicago Police officers and have made strides toward building trust. (This is part of a larger restorative justice initiative of CPD). A recent National Night Out event included an antique car display–guaranteeing the local community would be involved in planning and attending the event.
Community engagement is a critical component of building community trust. Traditional tactics include community events and partnerships. Nowadays, particularly to engage with young audiences, it is critical to think of both “real world” communities and to use digital tools to extend the life of community reach and to promote programs online.