Police Editorial

Nice editorial in the Journal recently about the Summerside Police Force. Certainly no organization is perfect. People expect quality government and services in exchange for their hard earned tax dollars and it is imperative that elected officials and public servants strive to always review and improve departments. Improved services are critical for any government to win the publics support and trust. Government and staff need to take a people first approach. Public needs to be seen as customers and clients.
I also believe in citizen centered government which is when the public is involved in decision making. To not have citizen committees and involve the public in key strategies and plans is truly “old school” public administration and I would suggest regressive.

To serve and protect
The Journal Pioneer
They are there to serve and protect. But what happens when the public loses faith in their police force?Apparently, that’s quickly happening in the City of Charlottetown. This week, the capital police service received a harsh and critical review in the form of a 29-page report commissioned by the city. The report, prepared by Verheul and Associates, pointed to several shortcomings within the department in almost every area of service. But, the most shocking conclusion was that residents of Charlottetown are quickly losing faith in its police force. Its citizens losing faith in their service should serve as a troubling wake-up call not only to the department but also to the city and the public. The report also found morale among staff is low and that the city’s police committee doesn’t have an effective relationship with the department.The capital police department, it was concluded, is often reactive rather, isolated from the community it serves and more concerned with internal administration. With low morale among its officers and employees and lack of faith from the public it services, how can the Charlottetown police department adequately function let alone function to its fullest capabilities?It’s rare to see Charlottetown officers on the street outside their cruisers. People are more apt to see officers, off duty, in uniform outside pubs and bars, which the report noted could pose significant risk in terms of liability and impartiality. Although its force isn’t perfect and has its issues to work on, the capital police department could take a lesson from Summerside. It’s common to walk downtown and bump into an officer walking the street. In the summer, one or two officers patrol the city on bicycle, chatting with youngsters. Summerside police are visible in the schools, teaching youngsters about the perils of drugs and alcohol through the DARE program; are at public events in street or dress uniform; and have a decent working relationship with the media. There’s also a good working relationship between the police committee and the force, apparent with the new crime safety and crime prevention advisory committee, which includes stakeholders, law enforcement and judicial representatives from the area. And, through that committee, the public has the opportunity to voice its concerns and become involved in the process. That’s something that the capital police department may have forgotten, that the people it serves have a big part in fighting and curbing crime.Building that relationship should be the first step in repairing the department’s tarnished image.