Fairhope, Alabama. (fairhopetimes@att.net)
COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO BEGIN
In the wake of recent well-publicized, racially-charged incidents in Ferguson Missouri, Madison Alabama and elsewhere, Fairhope Police Chief Joe Petties says his officers will be getting out in the community more to open up lines of communication and build 'public trust' -- to avoid such things here.
"The Chief from Madison noted that if he hadn’t worked hard before this incident to build up trust and respect in his community, it could have gotten out of hand. It’s important that police are trusted and are not seen as bullies in a community."
"Its important that police are trusted and not be seen as bullies in a community."
Petties was cited by the Alabama Association of Chief's of Police last January for ongoing training he received to address such problems. (full statement at bottom)
(Publisher's note: Police officers are often associated with German Shepherd, Rottweiler, or other such breeds of dogs; but Petties comes home to his three Pomeranians every day instead.)
Statement from the city:
Chief Petties gets award |
In the wake of recent well-publicized, racially-charged incidents in Ferguson Missouri, Madison Alabama and elsewhere, Fairhope Police Chief Joe Petties says his officers will be getting out in the community more to open up lines of communication and build 'public trust' -- to avoid such things here.
"The Chief from Madison noted that if he hadn’t worked hard before this incident to build up trust and respect in his community, it could have gotten out of hand. It’s important that police are trusted and are not seen as bullies in a community."
"Its important that police are trusted and not be seen as bullies in a community."
Petties was cited by the Alabama Association of Chief's of Police last January for ongoing training he received to address such problems. (full statement at bottom)
(Publisher's note: Police officers are often associated with German Shepherd, Rottweiler, or other such breeds of dogs; but Petties comes home to his three Pomeranians every day instead.)
Chief Petties' dogs |
Statement from the city:
FAIRHOPE
-- Fairhope Chief of Police Joseph Petties has completed the first 40
hours of training in the Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program,
conducted by the University Partnership for Alabama Continuing Education
and the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Petties was
recognized and awarded his certificate at the Alabama Association of
Chiefs of Police Winter Conference in Montgomery in January 2015.
“As
Chief, I’m required to take at least 20 executive-level hours every
year, held in various cities around the state, and the classes have been
useful and interesting,” Petties said. “I just took one class on
enhancing the public trust, that brought us up to date on the situation
in Ferguson, Missouri as well as the incident that occurred in Madison,
Alabama, between the police officer and the elderly man from India. The
Chief from Madison noted that if he hadn’t worked hard before this
incident to build up trust and respect in his community, it could have
gotten out of hand. It’s important that police are trusted and are not
seen as bullies in a community.”
Petties
said that he places great importance on communicating with the public
and having a good relationship between the community and his officers.
“You’re going to see officers out in the community more—getting involved
with youth in a fun way, like playing basketball or other sports, and
speaking at churches and other organizations to let people know more
about the men and women of the Fairhope Police Department and what we
do.”
Mayor
Kant agreed. “Police shouldn’t be someone you only have contact with
when there is a problem. We want our officers be part of the community
on a daily basis so that people know them and trust them.”
Classes
in the Executive-level continuing education program include Dealing
Effectively with the External Environment, Effective Management and
Supervisory Techniques, Diversity, Understanding People and Cultures,
Strategic Planning, and Generational Differences and assessments.
Comments
Unfortunately, in the absence of identification, the Publisher bears the brunt of it instead!