|  Acknowledgments
Introduction
Self-Assessment
Definition
Traffic
Enforcement
 Community
Outreach
Data
Collection
Resources
Legislation
and Case Law
Conclusion |
|
There
has been a tremendous outcry against bias-based traffic enforcement in
many parts of the country. In fact, the media often report on police behavior
and race-related issues. Community support is the key to getting the public
to voluntarily comply with laws before aggressive enforcement becomes
necessary. You can begin by building partnerships with advocacy groups,
local businesses, schools, judges, prosecutors, and elected officials.
Partners can help you get the message out to your community. One of the
most important ways to improve police/community race relations is through
communication. Use your cable and local television stations, radio, daily
and weekly newspapers, and industry magazines to reach out to the community.
There is no better way to get your message to the public.
I. Community Assessments
What do you want
from your community and what does your community want from you? If a community
has a problem with police relations, a multitude of concerns is typically
involved. Police community relations should be based on mutual respect.
In those communities that have problems, you will find “respect”
at the top of the list of concerns. Too often, both community members
and the law enforcement officers view police calls to the community as
“unwelcome service,” creating tension and apprehension in
police officers who do not want to be there, and in a community that does
not want police there.
II.
Service and Protection
People across America
want to feel safe on our roads. However, some community members feel threatened
when police are strongly enforcing traffic laws. Therefore, it will benefit
law enforcement agencies as well as the community if officers get out
of their cars, visit citizens, hold checkpoints and pass out public relations
literature, missing persons bulletins, and other general information.
The idea is to be ambassadors of service and protection.
Law enforcement also
should have a presence in the community even when nothing out of the ordinary
is happening. For example, offer assistance with child safety seats, buckle
up campaigns, regular town meetings, ride alongs, and self-defense classes.
All of these activities emphasize the message of “service and protection.”
Although most American jurisdictions and its law enforcement agencies
are not having problems with bias-based policing, several states have
been forced to confront racial profiling. In this context, it is only
prudent that law enforcement officials take proactive steps to minimize
the probability of being charged with differential policing. It is important
that law enforcement go to community leaders, express concerns, open lines
of communication, and enlist their opinions and support.
III.
What Can You Do?
- Offer training
programs to local leaders (mayor, city council members, business owners,
etc.) or invite them to your departmental training.
- Set up a dedicated
hotline for motorists to report harassment or suspected bias-based traffic
law enforcement.
- Set up meetings
with church leaders to define your objectives in specific communities,
and to ensure bias-based policing will not be tolerated.
- Visit the schools
and have your area resource officers address the police/ community.
It is important to
remember that change comes slowly and officers’ attitudes are slow
to change. Community perceptions are also slow to change. But the goal
is to establish a dialogue to put this change into motion. It
is the duty of law enforcement to serve and protect equally and without
prejudice. To have success at achieving department goals, agencies are
encouraged to enlist the community to get the much-needed insight.
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