I have a Mayberry mentality, meaning that I believe in a proactive and community oriented response to law enforcement. I see that being prepared, knowledgeable, and observant of my assigned environment are keys to a successful proactive approach. I further believe that being an active part of my community, including an open dialogue with its citizens about concerns they have, often brings about positive community participation and improved communication. I believe this approach and attitude further allows more successful implementation of training and wellness programs the department may initiate.
Below is an iconic image turned painting by American artist, Norman Rockwell. This particular painting is well known across the country and in my humble opinion, should be evident in every Police agency line-up room and front lobby. Because it represents something very special.
There was a time in US law-enforcement when both, police and community respected one another. Relationships were sown and communication was key. But time, demographics, and social change began to change the world law-enforcement patrolled. The mid to late 1960s saw a lot of social changes in society as drug use became more common and standing up to "the man" was more a rite of passage. Protests about the Vietnam war and a distrust of those in charge of public trust became common place and when local agencies were called in to keep the peace, a terrible clash between police and community resulted in a distrust that still echoes into today. The 70s saw corruption on a massive scale with many enforcement agencies, which furthered the divide. The 80s brought about the "War on Drugs" which brought with it the term "tactical" in everything cop. Army helmets, vests, batons, SWAT, and armored personel carriers were the "in thing" with agencies and the trust between community and law-enforcement became even less. The 90s saw a huge rise in gang violence and illegal street weapons, alongside narcotics. With it America began its incursion in the Middle East, with Desert Storm which brought the household term "Terrorists" into our lexicon after the 9/11 attacks. With each progression the divide between community and police grew and grew. Today, it is much more common to have officers scorned and looked upon as brutes, while the opposite is cops looking at everyone as a suspect and remaining distant emotionally and for the catch phrase, "officer safety". While there are many reasons for it all, some for the right and some for the wrong, the one thing law enforcement desperately needs, is for both sides to see the other as something other than a threat, so that together, through community spirit and communication, the true threats might be singled out and dealt with much more efficiently and with less collateral damage.
Andy Griffith got it right, when representing the face of te local constabulary decades ago. Keep it simple. Treat each other as human, even when someone doesn't deserve it. Positive attitude. Look and be clean (no cursing, etc) and friendly. Know and be a contributing part of your community, both on AND off the job.
San Francisco can use some of that good old faishioned law enforcement. Placing people in jail for drugs is not the plan.Making them accountable for criminal activity is needed. Judges were not handing out time for small crime and SIMPLE CRIMES BOOMED. It was not unusual to walk down the sidewalk and see broken glass from car windows. I know damn well tourists are fed up with the open drug sales and junkies. The best thing we did was making cannabis legal. It helped wipe out street sales of weed. Making cocaine and speed legall is not an option like it was with cannabis. So WE MUST come down harder on the damn junkies. No or very small consequences need to end . We are speaking up . BART has improved but The Tenderloin is no less than a junkie haven . I am so tired of the Latino and Black gangs who are at the heart of the violence. We have been been asking The Feds to arrest the illegals selling drugs on the corner . Recently The Feds have been working with SFPD to do sweeps. Especially after the recent flood of fentanyl . Too many young kids dying with needles in their arms due to that crap. I was a 95B in The Army and a 31E and 16P. I spent my time . I am now an old pot smoking hippie who has great respect for your job. BE SAFE
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