Ferndale Mayor and Police Chief Announce New Community Policing Model
(City of Ferndale Mayor David Coulter and Chief of Police Tim Collins)
Ferndale, MI – What role does law enforcement play in our community?
It’s a question being asked at the local and national level, by residents and municipalities alike. A 2015 national Gallup poll shows that confidence in law enforcement is at a twenty-two-year low, with only 52% of Americans expressing confidence in the police.
The reason behind this dip in trust is multi faceted. Citizens are hearing more about law enforcement nationally and less at the local level. When policing makes national headlines, it’s often in response to tragedies like the ones we’ve experienced in recent months rather than the good work they do every day. Meanwhile, citizens are engaging less with the police departments in their own communities; when people feel “in the dark” about how law enforcement agencies and officers work, it’s easy to see how confidence can wane.
The City of Ferndale is ready to change that.
At a recent City Council meeting, we elected to support an innovative new community-oriented policing model proposed by the Ferndale Police Department. Born from President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, the model goes back to basics and focuses on the most important aspect of why we do what we do: our community.
A community-oriented police department is made up of guardians—men and women trained to create strong, healthy, tight-knit communities. It’s about people: talking to people, building communications, establishing trust. It’s about officers becoming welcome and familiar faces. It’s about providing everyone—residents, visitors, business owners, and passersby—with the same treatment and respect. It’s about educating citizens so they can safety look out for one another. It’s about protection, not violence or enforcement.
Much of what our police department does already embraces this model, which we’re proud of. Moving forward, we’ll be working to build on these practices, ensuring that Ferndale remains at the heart of our decision-making. That means making some changes that directly reflect our community’s needs and values. As part of this process, we:
~Have created a new community engagement officer position, filled by Sgt. Baron Brown, a twenty-one-year veteran of the Ferndale Police Department. His new role will see him talking with residents, answering questions, meeting with local leaders, and generally working to build trust and transparency between our police department and the community it serves.
~Are developing a plan for communication and community involvement: We’re bringing back our Citizens Police Academy, an opportunity for residents to learn about law enforcement policies and practices. This sets the stage for neighbors to share and educate one another, empowers citizens to start block clubs and neighborhood watch programs, and stops the spread of rumors and misinformation.
~Are ramping up our community outreach: We’re committed to reaching all segments of our
community, from seniors in need of personal safety tips to youth who have grown up with a
distrust of law enforcement.
~Created and are seeing successes with the collaborative Early College program, which
provides opportunity and encouragement for underrepresented youth to seek careers in law enforcement.
These are simply the first steps in what will be a years-long move toward an entirely new style of policing. As a city, we are committed to this model completely, from the top down—we, your
Mayor and Chief of Police, the City Manager’s Office, City Council, and the officers working day and night to serve this community we all love. In fact, walking through the halls of the Ferndale Police Department, it is clear that change is already in the air: office doors are open, the atmosphere is professional yet friendly. Our captain—who holds a position we recently reinvested in after five years vacant—has a sign in his office that reads, “Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.”
As we work to strengthen our role in the community, we invite our citizens to do the same by reaching out and getting involved. Get to know your neighbors. Look out for one another. When you see Ferndale officers out and about, say hi. If you have questions or concerns, reach out us on
staff and City Council.
We are excited to be a part of the change that ushers in the next phase of law enforcement in Ferndale—not policing to our community, but working with it.
—City of Ferndale Mayor David Coulter and Ferndale Chief of Police Tim Collins