Community Policing and the “21st Century Police Model”

During the past several years, many communities across the country have experienced numerous police involved shootings which resulted in the deaths of unarmed men, women, and children of color. Most of these incidents occurred in cities and towns that are just like Mount Vernon. Most recently in Seattle, WA, where Charleena Lyles was shot and killed on Sunday, June 18th, after police responded to her call reporting a possible burglary. The Seattle Police Department reported that Ms. Lyles was holding a knife and refused to put it down. Her four children were in the home, and she was pregnant with her fifth when she was shot and killed by police. Citizens across the country are outraged that these incidents are occurring too frequently. Many have taken to social media using the hashtag #SayHerName, and wondering what could have been done to resolve this issue without taking her life.

What’s upsetting in the case of Charleena Lyles is that she was known by police to have mental health issues. Furthermore, just a few months ago in Seattle, a man wielding a knife was threatening police in the street, and officers talked to the man for several hours before eventually convincing him to put down the knife and surrender to police peacefully. Resolving these issues without the use of force should always be the priority.

At the forefront of this discussion should be the way mental health is treated in this country, not only by the medical field, but by police as well. There needs to be a better understanding of the issues people are dealing with and the proper way to deescalate these situations before they spiral out of control.

We cannot allow hate to fill the void of understanding. We cannot allow fear to force us into making emotional decisions. We must hold onto hope and rediscover our spirit of courage to intelligently address issues of race, racism, and violence. We can conquer false perceptions. We will by driving honest dialogues on uncomfortable realities on both sides of the badge.

Last year my administration implemented President Barack Obama’s “21st Century Police Model” in Mount Vernon. To create a safer environment, there must be trust between law enforcement agencies and the community in which they serve. This is key to transforming our department into one that will keep our streets safe, our families protected and our city secure. We are creating a culture of accountability and transparency and moving the Mount Vernon Police Department fully into the 21st century. Examples of my administration’s efforts to reconnect the police and the people can be seen through the adoption of “Stop & Shake,” as well as bringing back fireworks and “pop-up” block parties.

Through embracing new ideas and investing in relationship development programs, we will combat racial profiling, provide better training, and deliver a more effective policing model for others to follow. This is the necessary work to build trust between law enforcement and the public to triumph over tragedy and move forward.