Positive Policing

Some recent stories about Police positively interacting with the public got me thinking about a possible antidote to the “Defund the Police” Movement.

Start with the story of the Texas cop who rushed into a burning residence and saved a 76-year old man and a 17-year old teenager.

We need people to hear about stories like that. Here are some others:

Saving a choking baby at a protest

Georgia Cop covers Uber ride for stranded mother and son (photo above courtesy Duluth Police Department)

Another example:

We know that black drivers often fear being stopped by white police officers. Only bad things can happen.

Hence, we need more stories like the following:

A (white) cop stopped some (black) motorists and gave them citations for “driving without ice cream cones” – along with cash to go out and buy ice cream cones. Their mood of fear and resentment immediately turned to jovial and light-hearted.

The above are examples of “Positive Policing” where police either:
• save someone, or
• bring Light unexpectedly into someone’s life

Some police could look for “good drivers” to stop and give positive driving citations to them. That would “make people’s day” and go a long way to improving relations between police and the public.

Not every member of the police force would be good at this, but those who are could be encouraged to hand out a few positive citations, maybe for driving safely (or for breaking the ice cream regulation, particularly on “slow days”).

That would go a long way to improving relations between the police and the general public!

Here’s one final example: the Police Department of Bangor, Maine.

We the public could learn to thank police for their service. That could raise their spirits.

Remember how our troops returning from Vietnam were vilified. But as a society, we got past that, and people now say, “Thank you for your service!” to military people.