Amid calls for accountability and transparency in policing, it has become more and more apparent that police departments and community members must work together to create change and to foster trust and cooperation. I recognize the importance of and value in regularly welcoming feedback and giving consideration to input from our residents, and to this end, I am pleased to share that I am launching a Chief’s Advisory Committee that will provide a forum for police and community interaction.
Members of the Committee will work with myself and other members of the Arlington Police leadership to identify and address public safety issues facing our community. The Committee will work with us to identify areas of community concern, such as homelessness, the Opioid Epidemic or immigration, and possible solutions or services that may help to address these concerns. Areas of focus could also include topics relating to APD such as police-community relations, officer safety and wellness, improvements to APD operations and practices, or departmental initiatives. Additionally, Committee members will be able to assist and provide feedback on the formation of strategies, development of policing concepts, and policy issues.
We know that citizens have a desire to play a role in public safety and policing discussions that affect their town. As a police department, we can continue to say that we’re listening to what community members want from us, but we have to prove that we do take our residents’ opinions, wants and needs seriously. This Committee’s discussions will be driven by the vision of its members, which will allow me to understand and work to address residents’ needs and concerns as they relate to public safety and the work of the APD. My vision is for the Committee to act as a resource and advising body that will present a diverse spectrum of viewpoints and ideas as represented by the citizens this department serves, and I believe this will allow us to create a forum that fosters important and productive conversations.
I am currently in the process of contacting various groups and commissions to invite them to be involved in the Committee. It is important that the designated Committee members are representative of our community, so I plan to have representation from the Human Rights, Disability, and Rainbow Commissions; Arlington Public Schools; Student Council; the religious community; the Equal Opportunity Advisory Committee; and the business community. A representative from Town Counsel, an elected official, and a police union representative will also be invited to sit on the Committee. Once selected, I hope for the Committee to have between 11 and 13 volunteer members that represent Arlington’s residents, business owners and students and their diverse backgrounds and experiences.
I believe that many of the changes and reforms that communities seek regarding policing and public safety will be difficult to achieve without working together. A committee such as this will function as a partnership between myself, the department, and people who represent different sectors of the community. This partnership will allow us to work together to learn from each other and address concerns, and I look forward to sharing the future work of the Committee.
Chief of Police Julie Flaherty