I was delighted to read about Garner’s Citizen Police Academy in the paper the other day, especially since I was one of its first graduates. Garner uses its Citizen Police Academy to give people a valuable look at the work done by police officers. I wound up gaining a new respect for our police.
Though it seemed innocent enough, something about the article nagged at me. Then I found it. Here’s Officer Troy Young explaining why police don’t wave back. Troy and I worked together when I was with Garner Crimestoppers:
“Imagine if the desk in your office is beside a window,” said Troy Young, senior officer with the Garner Police Department. “You aren’t going to wave at every car that goes past. Well, a patrol car is an office on four wheels.”
Troy’s answer makes a lot of sense. It isn’t because the police aren’t nice, he says, they’re just usually busy paying attention to other things. And that’s what bothers me.
I’m not a cop – I’ve never even done a ride-along – but I have worked closely with police as part of Crimestoppers, though. I have great respect for the job they have to do and I pay attention to how they’re perceived. One way to improve that perception is to spend more time out of their cars. Why do they wall themselves off in cars?
Take this morning, for instance, when my colleague and I walked a few blocks of downtown Philadelphia. On one corner we approached a police officer stirring his newly-purchased coffee. He must have somehow sensed me looking at him (and looking for his missing car) because he piped up with a cheerful “how are you gentlemen doing this morning?”
I was impressed. He had no squad car – his beat was the street. His simple act of greeting me effectively deputized me, making me far more willing to pass tips on any wrongdoing I might come across. If he was rolling along in his car that likely may never have happened.
The best crime-prevention tool is an active, dedicated community. Police would be wise to grow these bonds at every opportunity. Wave back. Spend more time outside of the car with bike patrols, Segway patrols, or horse patrols. Your health will improve, too.
In short, interact with the public as much as possible, because winning them over makes your job much, much easier.