In a forceful op-ed for USA Today, Maurice Jones, LISC CEO, and Jim Bueermann, a former police chief, show how investing in authentic police-community partnerships and neighborhood renewal is imperative for a safer, healthier country. It’s something people of all political stripes can agree on—because every American benefits.
The excerpt below is from:
In debate, Clinton and Trump should act more like their running mates: Voices
By Maurice Jones and Jim Bueermann
Moments of consensus are rare in politics these days. When they occur, we should embrace them. During the only vice presidential debate, Democratic nominee Tim Kaine praised community policing’s power to “build bonds of understanding” between law enforcement and communities of color. Republican nominee Mike Pence responded with a smile. “At the risk of agreeing with you,” he said, “community policing is a great idea.”
During Wednesday's final presidential debate before the election, their running mates would be wise to follow suit. We'd like to hear more support for this approach to make our communities safer.
The next White House must seize consensus that police and residents should cooperate and continue the Obama administration’s laudable efforts to repair rifts. But with discord and episodes of violence in the headlines, how does that really work?
Beyond words, make real investments
As a former police chief and a longtime community developer, we know that the path to meaningful cooperation can be fraught and indirect, especially in high-crime neighborhoods where reconciliation is needed most. The stakes are high, and real investment, not just words, is what is required. This begins with understanding why the relationship between some communities and police unravels.
Persistently high crime has less to do with law enforcement and much more to do with unemployment, blight, racial injustice, housing vacancies, failing schools, substance abuse and a maelstrom of other challenges. Police struggle to control criminal behavior, but residents don’t report crimes when they don’t trust cops. And gaining trust is difficult when crime remains high. That’s the vicious cycle that has reinforced significant, mutual distrust between police officers and communities.
There’s hard work to be done inside police departments and on the ground in high-crime communities, and all of it should be shaped by collaborative action, not just talk. Continued[+]...