Now, more than ever — Public safety is a topic that I want to engage with, rather than run away from.
First and foremost, I believe it is in our best interest to research LEOPS as a benefit for our first responders. This retirement package is almost status quo, and we need to step up to the plate.
I am a full-time inclusionists by nature. I strive to live life surrounded by as many humans from as many cultures as I possibly can. The reasons are many, but one reason is the “Edge Effect” To read more about the “Edge Effect” and how living a life engaged with people of nationalities other than your own can create creative, passionate, and amazing experiences one would not experience otherwise, click here and listen to this podcast by NPR on HIDDEN BRAIN entitled “The Edge Effect“, first published in July of 2018.
What does any of this have to do with Public Safety you ask?
Well, luckily Berlin’s Police Department is run by a top-shelf chief Chief Downing; who has served with us for 23 years. We are extremely lucky to have him. We have a fantastic human, and civil-rights track record and that gives us a great base to build from. What we need now are a few more officers so that we can fill a few pressing roles.
I am not into changing the presence of a police department in Berlin, I believe we need one. But what I am going to suggest is more “community policing.” Our closest metro-like neighbor Salisbury has a bike patrol, and in the past has had a horse patrol. I believe Berlin could benefit from having either one and certainly a bike patrol.
Here’s where I would start:
First with a “bike beat” and have both the East and the West sides of Berlin patrolled at some points in time with a bike patrol officer or officers. It works so well in Salisbury, the beat officer is a common presence everywhere, and everyone knows him. There’s less crime there in the downtown area of Salisbury, and I believe that this has a direct effect. It will also build trust within the communities, and begin to wrap the thin blue line around everyone it can. They are here to protect and serve everyone. We could also spend some time looking into the health insurance for retirees of our police department. I know that this was once an issue, and it may still be.