Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: JUNE 2016 17 ations. This approach enables law enforcement to interact with residents in relaxed, tension- free environments, where calm and rational discussion can flourish. Deputies and officers are able to benefit as well by interacting in informal en- vironments with the com- munity, allowing them to hear and understand the needs and perspectives of the people they serve. The cornerstone of effec- tive law enforcement is a community that has trust in its deputies and officers. Law enforcement agencies throughout the nation rec- ognize this and are actively looking for ways to shape their policies and proce- dures for the better. George Hofstetter is presi- dent of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (AL- ADS). He can be reached at: ghofstetter@alads.org. TOM CLINE and BRIAN MCVEY GEORGE HOFSTETTER OPINION/EDITORIAL W hile headlines over the last several years s h o w t h a t community trust in law en- forcement is under stress, I believe the bigger issue is addressing how we arrived at this point. All too often, groups who criticize and demonize of- ficers for having a warrior mentality or for being trig- ger happy are just bait for the groups looking to remain relevant. And too often, entertain- ment (be it TV, film, or YouTube) provides a false narrative of what law en- forcement does across the country. The real question is how do we address community distrust? The answer is quite simple – community polic- ing, but not as the term is commonly used. Policing in America start- ed as a community volun- teer watch system to warn of danger, supplemented by a paid force of constables supervising the watch and performing other duties. It was not until 1880s that po- lice work became a full-time profession. Today, and espe- cially in California, our widespread population results in little personal in- teraction between police and much of the public. Instead, public attitudes towards police are shaped by the media and popular entertain- ment. The traditional view of community policing is depu- ties and police officers walk- ing beats and interacting directly with residents in the neighborhoods they patrol. While those brief inter- actions may change some perceptions, what we need is a community engaging at a deeper level with local law enforcement. What is needed are com- munity members who are involved with their law en- forcement agency by volun- teering at the local station or joining the local civilian advisory board. The principle goal of law enforcement – keeping resi- dents safe and secure – is best accomplished by work- ing directly with community stakeholders and other agen- cies to solve community problems that cause crime. There is no better way to do this than to create a two- way street of respect and understanding between law enforcement and the com- munities we serve. That is best done by hav- ing residents who are fully informed about their department’s policies and prac- tices and who know their local law en- forcement person- nel. The only contact most residents have with law enforce- ment is when they summon the police to deal with a problem, when they are victims of a crime, or they get a traffic citation. But residents will better understand their local law enforcement people if they have one-on-one interac- tions outside “official” situ- How to restore trust with the community Deputies and officers are able to benefit as well by interacting in informal environments with the community, allowing them to hear and understand the needs and perspectives with the ability to ignore the violence, dehumanization and betrayal by our leaders we experience daily. Rou- tine exposure to “unsafe” environments gnaws at one’s spirit. A quote from Fredrich Ni- etzsche states, “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster, for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” Cops see, feel, taste, touch and smell evil routinely. In other words we “gaze long into the abyss.” In a recent conversation with a Chicago officer who was on scene of a nine-year old lured into an alley and shot execution style, his de- spair was obvious. Through his blank stare he said, “I kept thinking of my grandson who is the same age.” This guy had over 25 years on the job and the “abyss” was calling him as it eventu- ally does to all of us who do L ately there are a lot of stories about col- lege students com- plaining about crime on campus and that they need more “safe places” to be in. Some college administra- tors are taking their pleas se- riously and drastic measures are being taken. I wonder what would happen if those students who do not feel “safe” on campus rode in a Chicago police car for just one night. What feelings would stir if they stood for hours as protestors mocked, taunted, intimidated and filmed them as is routinely being done to police officers today? It is not natural to go to work and stand for hours as a punching bag. The emotional stress of the job can and will eventually affect the best of us because we are human, not machines this job. He spoke of the stress felt dealing with recent protes- tors downtown, citing that one agitator got in many officers’ faces, taunting them while three others filmed the taunts. He asaid, “I felt like I was handcuffed! It was unbear- able.” I told him that we are the current punching bag for the public. The anger people feel toward their government is being taken out on police who represent it. When is it acceptable to walk up to someone in a public place, stand inches away from their face, and taunt them? If they tried this on politicians emerging from a government building, the police would be called to ar- rest them. Trying it on local gangs would land them in an emer- gency room or grave. Of- ficers recognize that stress is part of their profession, but repeated exposure to violence, death and sin is dangerous. Repeated stress can lead to anxiety, depres- sion, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). How many officers prop- erly maintain themselves physically, spiritually and psychologically in the face of this chronic stress? I’m guessing not enough. While “survival” is a big buzzword in law enforce- ment, it’s rarely used in the context of an officer’s emo- tional well-being. Officers are afraid to reveal their pain because they fear ridicule and rejection from peers, and the stripping of their police powers by their leadership. And who can they go to for help? For some it is too much and they end their lives. And their loved ones are often margin- alized and ignored by peers and their agencies which makes things even worse. Police officers, now more than ever, have become pa- riahs in our culture. And too often our leader- ship is failing us. According to Dr. Jonathan Shay, who devoted his life to helping another group of pariahs, Vietnam vets with PTSD, the three major causes are exposure to trauma, be- trayal by your leadership, and dehumanizing the en- emy. More cops are dying from these things than are mur- dered by criminals. Every one of us is broken in one way or another and we must help one another. Increasingly, awareness is being created regarding the issues facing law enforce- ment. Let’s not lose another one of us. Brian McVey spent 10 years with the Chicago Police De- partment. You can reach Brian at btmcvey@comcast.net. Tom Cline is a 48-year law enforce- ment veteran. You can reach Tom at Coptales@gmail.com. Officers have become society’s punching bag