Communicate
Promoting open communication to enhance trust between police and the community.
Communication is essential to building trust, mutual respect, and understanding. Sharing information with the public can increase understanding of laws, safety measures, police procedures, and their rights as citizens. Effective communication can help reduce stereotypes and biases, increase police understanding of local needs and concerns, support joint-problem solving, and contribute to more effective community-oriented policing. When community members feel heard and respected, they are more likely to trust, engage and cooperate with the police. Open communication channels allow community members to provide feedback on police performance, thereby fostering a sense of transparency and accountability.
How to Communicate Effectively with the Community
- Ensure transparency by sharing clear and easily accessible information about police procedures, policies, and actions. For example, consider using online platforms to disseminate information and release annual reports on police activity. Also, ensure the language used is digestible and easily understood by those without a background in the policing profession.
- Support accountability by using technology—such as body-worn cameras and dashcams—to record interactions with the public. Remain transparent with the data collected to ensure accountability. Consider creating a policy on the release of this footage in the aftermath of a critical incident.
- Implement community policing initiatives that assign officers to neighborhoods to foster familiarity and ongoing relationships with residents. These efforts can allow officers to become more approachable and better understand the specific needs of the community. Elements of community policing can include:
- Working closely with respected community leaders and organizations to build bridges between the police and the community. These leaders can act as intermediaries and help disseminate accurate information.
- Participating in regularly scheduled meetings where community members can voice their concerns and interact with police officers in a non-confrontational setting to foster open dialogue and mutual understanding.
- Establishing feedback channels through which community members can provide input or share concerns about police services. Examples include community surveys, suggestion boxes, and community advisory boards.
- Providing cultural-awareness training that can help officers effectively communicate and interact with diverse communities. Understanding cultural nuances and/or differences can greatly improve interactions and reduce misunderstandings. Provide language translation services and materials for non-English speaking community members to ensure inclusivity in communication.
- Use evidence-based public relations strategies to communicate effectively with the broader community through local media using press releases, interviews, and participation in community events.
- Leverage social media platforms to share information, respond to concerns, and engage with the community in a more informal and accessible way, including using these platforms during emergencies to provide real-time updates.
- Have a crisis communication plan that will ensure accurate and timely sharing of information with the community during a crisis.
