By Kelton Brooks
The Hutchinson News
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Natasha Russell has a simple question for police.
“When did we lose our focus on protect and serve?” Russell asked.
Law enforcement across the nation have been heavily scrutinized by communities in the wake of police shooting deaths in Baltimore, Charleston, South Carolina, and Ferguson, Missouri.
In multiple encounters with the public, some officers have been arrested and indicted on murder charges for shooting and killing citizens behind accusations of discrimination, resigned after excessive use force and terminated after dashboard, body or camera phone video showed the officer using racial slurs.
The tension, as well as the understanding of police actions, have trickled down to Hutchinson, as community members voice their opinions on the relationship between the Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County Sheriff’s Office and the community.
As Russell leaned back in her chair and contemplated that relationship, she described law enforcement in Hutchinson and nationwide as an entity of its own, instead of a piece that fits into a puzzled community looking for answers.
“Law enforcement is seen as an exterior occupying force,” she explained. “It can accurately be said we have a police state in effect. In general, there is a perception of police as an occupying force as opposed to protect and serve.”
Both Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson and Chief of Police Dick Heitschmidt insist that their officers maintain a presence in the community by visiting schools and the Boys and Girls Club. The two of them attend monthly meetings with the NAACP and Hispanic groups.
Henderson described the relationship as good, and Heitschmidt explained that when officers interact with the public, they need to show each individual respect and dignity.
“I think there is always going to be segments of the community that don’t believe that, but I think it’s important that we recognize that,” said Heitschmidt. “In this day and age, we make some gestures to the minority community to help them see or believe that we are trying to do a good job regardless of race, ethnicity or sex. But still, somebody is going to walk away with their encounter with law enforcement unhappy and, unfortunately, that’s part of the game.”
Heitschmidt and Henderson mentioned the use of body cameras and how dashboard videos record interaction between an officer and a civilian. Henderson recalled a time when a citizen made a complaint about an officer during a traffic stop.
The man explained how the officer yelled and used profane language towards his daughter.
Henderson said the father was allowed to come and view the video for himself, however, and discovered the altercation was the other way around.
“Body cameras and car cameras are beneficial, and nine times out 10, those cameras will be in the officer’s favor,” Henderson said.
If a citizen has a complaint, they can fill out a form at the law enforcement center and City Hall. Citizens can also pick up and fill out a complaint form at the local NAACP office, where the organization’s president, Darrell Pope, said he understands that some people are hesitant to make written complaints about an officer at the police station.
Pope said the relationship between the community and law enforcement is “adversarial nationwide, but cordial in Hutchinson.” He spoke of meetings, where he’s able to sit down and hash out issues with each department.
“When there are public events, law enforcement needs to be available and out there mingling with people, talking to them, and letting them know that protect and serve applies to everybody,” Pope said.
Drew Moody, a sophomore at Hutchinson Community College who was walking with friends after class, explained how he doesn’t feel he is offered the same protection from police as others.
“I feel like police don’t protect black people,” Moody said. “I feel like they try to lock us up. I don’t see any positive in them. They think we have drug-related things going on when we’re walking together or we’re in a gang. We just play football and go to school.”
Pope, along with Hutchinson Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho, suggested the possibility of community policing to tighten the relationship between patrons and law enforcement. While Piros de Carvalho believes the relationship is positive, she also believes there is room for improvement.
“Our local police force is a dedicated group that does a difficult, often thankless job,” she said. “In my view, relations between the community and law enforcement are good, but I believe they could be strengthened through the adoption of a community policing model. Officers would find their jobs safer and easier to do if the public had less fear of the police.”
However, Piros de Carvalho added community policing takes resources for which taxpayers might not be willing to invest.
Hutchinson Police Capt. Troy Hoover expressed his desire to reinitiate the Citizen’s Police Academy, which he believes will allow the community to get a much closer look at the department and provide a better understanding of their mission and operation.
The San Diego, California, Police Department and Taylor, Michigan, force explain how they use a Neighborhood Watch program consisting of community coordinators, watch coordinators and block captains as a liaison and a crime prevention education program designed to educate residents and businesses on how to best protect themselves, their families and their homes.
Hutchinson resident Dawn Courson acknowledges that it takes a certain person to work in law enforcement and is well aware of how officers can easily burn themselves out from working numerous calls.
But they have to find ways to de-escalate situations instead of inciting them, be proactive instead of reactive, and treat people with respect, she said.
“I don’t hate police,” Courson said. “I know they have a hard job, but you’re dealing with people’s lives. You have to know you’re using the right amount of force.”
Copyright 2015 The Hutchinson News