Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY) Copyright: 2004 The Courier-Journal Contact: http://www.courier-journal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97 Author: Jessie Halladay POLICE WORK ON COMMUNITY TIES New Unit Strives To Expand Reach Of Programs They teach second-graders to buckle their seat belts and to avoid strangers. They play basketball and soccer with older kids, discuss the dangers of illegal drug use with fifth-graders, patrol halls at some schools and track the complaints that come into the Louisville Metro Police chief's office. Last year, 13 officers were pulled from duties like patrol to focus on one thing: building bridges between police and residents. Chief Robert White started the Community Relations unit in March after taking over the newly merged Louisville-Jefferson County department a year ago. While few of its programs are new, they've grown and become more effective because the officers don't have to divide their focus, said Maj. Troy Riggs, who oversees the unit. For example, a sports program that in 2000 worked with about 80 kids in central Louisville now reaches about 500 children in four police districts. The specialized unit "has allowed us to do a lot more outreach," Riggs said. Part of the unit's mission is to make the department less intimidating to people - especially useful, Riggs said, during times of intense criticism, such as after the Jan. 3 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Michael Newby by an undercover police officer. Since the shooting, the unit's officers have fielded many questions from adults and children, he said. Because people know these officers, they "feel more comfortable talking to them and asking them questions," Riggs said. Officers try to tell people the same thing that White has been saying - that the department will conduct a complete investigation and provide information to the public as it can. Sports open doors When Officer Charles Jones started the Police Athletic League's youth sports program in the summer of 2000, it ran a couple of leagues in central Louisville's Fifth District. Jones, a former University of Louisville basketball standout who played in the pros, remembers pleading with fellow officers to lend a hand. Now, as a member of the Community Relations unit, Jones can draw on more money and more people. Since March, the PAL program has created additional leagues in four of the department's 10 districts, with programs in more districts planned, Jones said. One of the new leagues is at Newburg Middle School, where Loretta Wilson sat in the stands last month watching her 11-year-old son, Domonique Alexander, pound up and down the basketball court amid a sea of boys filled with enthusiasm. Wilson sat behind three uniformed officers running the scoreboard, while another officer moved around the gym talking to youngsters and parents. In this league, teachers and parents do the coaching, but the officers come to show the boys on the court and in the stands what can happen in a community when people get involved. They also hope to be the mentors - open and friendly, but with high standards - that some of the children need to build productive lives. Meanwhile, the youngsters learn respect for each other and for authority "so that when they're out there on the streets they don't become a problem for the community," Jones said. He and other members of the unit were chosen for the job because they had demonstrated a commitment to work with the community, Riggs said. Each member puts in long hours, and they're often on the job well after their shift ends. Lt. Jeff Manning, for instance, who runs the unit's daily operations, often brings his two children along for evening programs. His son plays in the Newburg PAL program. The schedule can be grueling, Manning said, but he believes the face-to-face contact is important. "That's why we put in these extra hours," he said, "to get the one-on-one with the community." Wilson said she and other parents appreciate the effort because her son and his friends "are at the age where they're real vulnerable. This keeps them off the streets." And the officers know they are reaching people. "Not only am I getting the trust of the kids, I'm also getting the trust of the parents," said Officer Minerva Virola, who manages a new PAL soccer league for about 45 youngsters ages 8 to 13 at the Americana Community Center on Southland Boulevard. It gives 13-year-old Haris Boskailo, a Bosnian immigrant, a structured way to play his favorite sport. Without it, Haris said, he would get no coaching from community volunteers and officers. Haris said he knows if he acts up at practice or his grades slip, "you can't play" - so he keeps his nose clean. Reaching parents Edgardo Mansilla, who runs the Americana Community Center, said he has been impressed with the work of the new unit. "They are developing a relationship with the parents of the children," Mansilla said. "They are trying to be more accessible. I see them trying to reach out to everyone they can." Mansilla said that's important because in many of the immigrant communities he works with - including Hispanics, Somalis and Bosnians - people are used to the police being the "bad guys." Not all of the unit's programs involve long-term relationships. Since August, 2,634 second-graders from 44 schools have gone through the day-long Safety City program, which uses a model city to teach basic safety - how to cross the street, fasten a seat belt, call 911, get out of a fire and wear a bicycle helmet. And in an effort to be more responsive, Riggs said, the unit's officers and civilian support staff tracked and responded to all of the 4,000 telephone calls and letters that have come into the chief's office since March. It's the first time the department has documented the response to tips and complaints from the public, Riggs said. On Jan. 5, the unit added nine school resource officers, who patrol hallways at a specific building, interact with students, and teach safety and anti-drug sessions. When school isn't in session, the officers will help with other programs. And DARE classes - short for Drug Abuse Resistance Education - taught by community relations officers are reaching fifth-graders in 118 of the area's 125 public and parochial schools this academic year. A springboard White acknowledges that the attitudes of responsiveness and community involvement must extend beyond the unit. He said he wants more beat officers to get involved in its programs and other initiatives developed to deal with specific neighborhood needs. But the unit's efforts can be a springboard, he said. Districts already have formed citizen advisory groups and are taking on their own community projects, such as holding neighborhood forums or distributing holiday gifts to children. Meanwhile, the unit's officers hope to get more civilian volunteers involved, said Sgt. David Blake, who oversees that effort. They help by staffing police booths at the Kentucky State Fair, serving meals to officers during Kentucky Derby week and helping with community meetings. Carla O'Bannon, 40, of the Fincastle area, donates dozens of hours to the department every year. She said that volunteering has helped her see that police do not get enough credit for their outreach efforts. With only about $76,000 for programs in the unit's annual budget, donations, grants and corporate sponsors help it do more, Riggs said. Recently, Louisville Gas and Electric Co. and the police announced a new partnership for KidPrint ID. The utility bought $10,000 worth of equipment that quickly makes cards on which parents can have their child's vital information listed in case the child is lost or taken. LG&E approached the police with the idea - and the department jumped on it, said Doug Bennett, a company spokesman. "They bring a lot of energy," he said. "They're really out there." Upcoming projects A citizens' police academy for the Hispanic community. Classes will be taught in Spanish at St. Rita Catholic Church on Preston Highway. Participants will learn how police officers do their jobs - everything from homicide investigations to dealing with the media. The eight-week class for 25 people begins Jan. 27. To register, call 574-7452. Construction of a Habitat for Humanity house this summer. The money will come from the sale of replica model police cars currently being designed. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom