by Justin Schweiner
Police work has always held an element of risk. The main concern of the average police officer has to be the threat of physical violence. An officer realizes that every contact with a member of the public could potentially turn into a violent confrontation. Now, in addition to the normal routine of police work, officers have to be wary of the politically inspired violence that we have recently seen.
The mainstream media continues to head the anti-police rhetoric, refusing to show all the good that our officers do. To show the human side of police officers that is rarely seen by the media, we have taken some tidbits from police departments across the country, showing how they are connecting with their community via social media.
Creative Ways to Get Involved
The Miami Police Department created a “community relations” unit to build a better relationship with their community. They recently teamed up with residents to help clean up their neighborhood. This act shows the dedication these officers have to better their community.
Building Relationships
The “community relations” unit got involved again with the community by teaming up with local food trucks to give away free ice cream and tacos on Cinco De Mayo day. The Miami Police Department continues to implement creative ways to better help their community they serve.
Helping Serve the Community
The Englewood (Colorado) Police Department are also doing what they can to get more involved with their community. Every week they host a virtual “Coffee with a Cop” to discuss how they can better serve their community.
Have Humor!
Of course, it’s always good to provide a little humor and fun like they are doing in Chicago!
Building Understanding
Many don’t understand or know what a typical day of an officer looks like during their shift. To show the incredible work they do, the Grand Chute (Wisconsin) Police Department has been offering a unique virtual “ride-along” opportunity for members of the community. Community members are able to get to know their officers and see what it’s like to protect and serve their community. This is a great way to not only educate the public on what it’s like to be an officer but an even better way to build a relationship with community members.
With this current war on our local police, it is imperative that we continue to recognize the positive that comes from our local officers. There are many ways that local police departments are staying connected with their community in a positive way with the use of social media. Let’s do the same and share some positive interactions that you have had with your local police. Let’s work to end the anti-police rhetoric and get back to supporting our local officers!