Over the last few months our core group has had discussions over the word Reconciliation. It is agreed the best fit for the vision our community is to build toward Police Community Relations, with a focus on: *Safety *Security *Solutions
In Memphis and Shelby County all residents have basic needs and wants. A few of the needs are to feel Safe and Secure, in Memphis and Shelby County Solutions are needed:
In many communities the relationship between community members and law enforcement has deteriorated to the point of breakdown. We are working with communities across Memphis and Shelby County so that they can lead a process that will move towards improved relations between their communities and law enforcement.
Policing has changed a great deal since the first policemen walked their beats in the early 1800’s. Today, most officers live miles away from their precincts and patrol large areas by car rather than by foot. As a result, police have less contact and conversation with the neighborhood residents they watch over, and this lack of communication can cause fear, mistrust and frustration on both sides, changing police-community relations for the worse.
Such confrontational relationships can exist between the police force and an entire neighborhood or just a segment of the population, such as African Americans, youth, or immigrants. In any of these situations, a positive partnership can only be developed by discarding negative stereotypes, initiating a frank dialogue based on mutual respect, and becoming open to collaborative community policing. In other words, both sides need to go through a transition. We are working to improve community police relations by….
• Creating a safe space for dialogue about the real issues between the community and police that is led by the communities suffering most from negative interactions with the police.
• Building security for our community that is based in tactics that are self determined by our communities. How do we handle crime in our community? Will we handle it with brute force? Or will we focus on community based solutions? These are the questions that we need to answer and it is those answers that should dictate policy and implementation.
• Putting forth the solutions that will remove the barriers to positive relations. This is not a project solely about dialogue and healing. It is about healing so that our community can re-engage in setting the agenda for how we deal with the problems that we face. We are here to make a change!
So, what change will we make? How will we improve? That is something we all have to decide and it is a conversation that is starting now. Join us! Contact:
Melissa Miller-Monie, Organizing Coordinator, melissa@midsouthpeace.org or 901.725.4990.
Coordinated through the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
1000 S. Cooper St. • Memphis, TN 38104