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Its nice to hear Chief Sizer on TOL speaking intelligently to issues of policing.  I worry, however, that she is speaking to the wrong issues and I wonder if the PPB leadership is so out of touch with its organizational culture that they are unable to really listen and hear their community. Many complaints surround dissatisfaction with the police-citizen encounter-  poor customer service. 

The problem begins with the culture, which begins with the leadership at all levels, particularly from the executive board room. I do think Sizer is demonstrating bad form by using the recent death of a community member as an opportunity to sell a training facility. 

I am saddened that one of the most liberal and progressive communities in the nation are at such odds with its police force.  This needs to change, and it won't change until PPB leadership, City Council, The Mayor, and the community demand, seek, and achieve cultural change within the organization.  The individual officers have the capacity (with few exceptions as in any organization) to perform to the expectations that their leadership sets. 

Use of Force training and policy isn't the key issue. Recruiting isn't the key issue. Community building through strong leadership of necessary cultural change (how the officers interact with their citizens, how they are trained to communicate and resolve problems, their willingess to help people and 'broker' other social services when the matter at hand isn't an 'enforcement' matter). 

I can recall several interactions with PPB officers who demonstrated unacceptable customer service; I even complained once and got the standard dismissal from the on duty sergeant (even when I advised that I was an off duty police officer...a supervisor at that). 

There needs to be significant organizational change...it seems that we are going to hear rhetorical discussions of things that are secondary and tertiary to the real problem. 

Policing is an honorable profession; its unfortunate that the leadership of PPB doesn't honor its people and lead appropriate change. 

Peace.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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I applaud this radio community (TOL, guests, and listening audience) for having this difficult and necessary dialogue.  Communities demand transparency and accountability from their police institutions; often our organizational culture and bureaucracy get in the way of delivering these instrumental expectations. 

Thank you Mr. Foden-Vencil for your well articulated insights into the job of a police officer.

There is clearly a disconnect between police and the communities we serve; this is not an "innate" gap, but rather one that exists for multiple, complex reasons that can be analyzed and addressed by stakeholders on both sides of the gap- police leadership (and subsequently officers in the field) and community leaders (and subsequently community members). 

Police culture is amidst a sea change; for the last decade agencies across the nation have been hiring people who don't fit the misconceived stereotype that is reflected in so may negative comments in this dialogue.  The forces of change in police culture, and yes it needs to change to reflect a more positive community relationship, are also internal. 

Police officers are intelligent, capable critical thinkers that have a strong sense of social justice (their motivation to do this, frankly, often too difficult job).  These qualities and characteristics get skewed by community members who treat police (either in dialogue like this, in personal contact, or in other community conversations) with the same disdain and prejudice that they accuse police of acting with.  These qualities and characteristics also get skewed by leadership failures and often paralyzing bureacracy from the top down through police organizations- leadership sets the tone for how officers behave.

We (police) must be willing to hear and process this uncomfortable dialogue; our community members must be willing to get beyond their own "profiling" of who we are as police officers, and by the way, members of the communty. 

We in law enforcement seek this dialogue and learning; may it be a process that we all participate in and bravely listen, hear and become mindful of how we can be champions of positive change and the continuted growth of our communities.

For those of you you just want to hate police (and, lets be honest- you are a part of the problem) our thoughts and prayers for healing are with you.

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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