Newark police launches porject to improve relationship with city residents
By Sharon Adarlo/The Star-Ledger
March 04, 2010, 8:17PM
Newark Police Director Garry McCarthy in an August photo.
NEWARK -- Newark police officials are working to improve relations between officers and city residents by pursuing changes in policy that covers everything from internal affairs to training.
Police Director Garry McCarthy and other top brass said they have formed several committees -- made up of mostly officers who have been combing through department procedures -- to come up with reforms to strengthen ties with the public.
The community relations project was announced today at a meeting that attracted clergy, school leaders, community groups, and officials from the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been a frequent critic of the police.
The committees have been meeting since November and will present their suggestions to the groups invited to today’s meeting, said Police Deputy Director Niles Wilson. The community leaders will recommend their own reforms at twice-weekly gatherings that have not yet been scheduled.
"We have received so many complaints," Wilson said when asked about the need for the coordinated outreach effort. "(Residents) don’t trust the police."
Wilson called the police’s new approach a "customer service model that is based on mutual respect" and the changes that come out of the committees will cause "a philosophical change in the police department."
He said the department put out a street team this week to survey residents about how satisfied they are with the force.
McCarthy has already taken small steps to improve the department’s image. He recently ordered the removal of the bullet-proof glass that enclosed the front desks at the precinct building.
"The imagery of that was overwhelming. It didn’t make sense,’’ he said about the unwelcoming message presented by the glass enclosure.
Loucious Jones, vice president of United Parents Network, a Newark-based group that represents parent and teachers organizations, said he was pleased with the new approach.
"It’s a step in the right direction. It’s a great start," Jones said.
Fredrica Bey, executive director of non-profit group Women in Support of the Million Man March, said she also approved of the meeting, but was cautious.
"We’ll see if we can bring printed page to life in Newark," she said.
Deborah Jacobs, director of the state’s ACLU, also viewed the meetings as a positive step, and said she’s hopeful McCarthy will follow through with reforms.
"If not, the ACLU will always be here to hold the police accountable," she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment