From the Whittier Daily News....
The phone rings.
"Traffic, Sgt. Lowe."
The caller immediately wants to know why the police are not doing their job and stopping all the speeding motorists or why did I receive a parking ticket when I have been parking that same way for years?
I usually sense that the callers are often unsatisfied and frustrated when I reply, "Speed is not specific to your street, it is an issue throughout the city" or that "the length of time you have parked in a certain manner does not make it legal, it just means that the violation has not been enforced until now."
The caller with the speeding issue wants an officer at the location today and every day hereafter. I try, often to no avail, to explain to the caller how the deployment of department resources (officers) is based on the street's traffic collision history and other factors.
The recipient of the parking citation wants the citation dismissed and is unhappy when told that the citation cannot be dismissed since it was a valid citation based on the violation.
I have had to answer these types of calls, and many similar calls, on a daily basis during my time as the Traffic Bureau supervisor for the Whittier Police Department.
During my 24-plus years in law enforcement, I have learned that many people are frustrated with their police department because of misinformation or lack of any information. An informed public means greater understanding and an increase of respect.
An increase of respect brings about stronger partnerships between the public and police. Strong partnerships between the public and police make a community stronger.
The information, understanding, and respect flows both ways. I learned this lesson after six years of teaching "Administration of Justice" part time at two of the local high schools. My respect for the teaching profession and high school students increased and my students gained respect for law enforcement as evidenced by the fact that some of my former students are now working as officers at this department.
My problem: How do I reach the public as I did high school students when I was teaching?
Then I heard about a traffic officer from an agency in Northern California who writes a column in his local newspaper. The column solicits questions from the community regarding any topic dealing with traffic or parking. I thought it was a great opportunity to provide information regarding traffic/parking issues, as well as improving understanding and raising respect on both the public's and the police department's behalf.
If you are a skeptic regarding this idea, then look at it from this perspective. Those readers with children have undoubtedly been tasked with helping your child with his/her homework.
Before you can help your child with his/her homework, you must have a basic understanding of the subject matter, that is unless you don't mind your child looking at you with the same dumbfounded look that the student participants on the game show, "Are you Smarter Than a 5th Grader" look at the adult contestants.
So if you do not want to give or receive a dumbfounded look then "ask a traffic cop." Please e-mail any traffic or parking-related questions to dlowe@cityofwhittier.org
The phone rings.
"Traffic, Sgt. Lowe."
The caller immediately wants to know why the police are not doing their job and stopping all the speeding motorists or why did I receive a parking ticket when I have been parking that same way for years?I usually sense that the callers are often unsatisfied and frustrated when I reply, "Speed is not specific to your street, it is an issue throughout the city" or that "the length of time you have parked in a certain manner does not make it legal, it just means that the violation has not been enforced until now."
The caller with the speeding issue wants an officer at the location today and every day hereafter. I try, often to no avail, to explain to the caller how the deployment of department resources (officers) is based on the street's traffic collision history and other factors.
The recipient of the parking citation wants the citation dismissed and is unhappy when told that the citation cannot be dismissed since it was a valid citation based on the violation.
I have had to answer these types of calls, and many similar calls, on a daily basis during my time as the Traffic Bureau supervisor for the Whittier Police Department.
During my 24-plus years in law enforcement, I have learned that many people are frustrated with their police department because of misinformation or lack of any information. An informed public means greater understanding and an increase of respect.
An increase of respect brings about stronger partnerships between the public and police. Strong partnerships between the public and police make a community stronger.
The information, understanding, and respect flows both ways. I learned this lesson after six years of teaching "Administration of Justice" part time at two of the local high schools. My respect for the teaching profession and high school students increased and my students gained respect for law enforcement as evidenced by the fact that some of my former students are now working as officers at this department.
My problem: How do I reach the public as I did high school students when I was teaching?
Then I heard about a traffic officer from an agency in Northern California who writes a column in his local newspaper. The column solicits questions from the community regarding any topic dealing with traffic or parking. I thought it was a great opportunity to provide information regarding traffic/parking issues, as well as improving understanding and raising respect on both the public's and the police department's behalf.
If you are a skeptic regarding this idea, then look at it from this perspective. Those readers with children have undoubtedly been tasked with helping your child with his/her homework.
Before you can help your child with his/her homework, you must have a basic understanding of the subject matter, that is unless you don't mind your child looking at you with the same dumbfounded look that the student participants on the game show, "Are you Smarter Than a 5th Grader" look at the adult contestants.
So if you do not want to give or receive a dumbfounded look then "ask a traffic cop." Please e-mail any traffic or parking-related questions to dlowe@cityofwhittier.org
3 comments:
I don't think Ofc. Lowe's situation is any more/less unique than anyone else working in a public-face typoe of job or setting; however, I think that the police very unfairly receive the brunt of public frustration b/c they cannot be all things to all people.
I agree that there seems to be an abundance of speeding lately (esp. on Greenleaf) but I've seen WPD pulling people over. If you want more police, then you have to raise taxes, and you can't have one w/out the other. Personally, I would gladly take a hike in taxes if it meant more cops in the street.
WPD does a stellar job in our city (esp. in Uptown), and is very quick to respond if ever we have had to call them for anything. They're very approachable and professional.
I moved to Whittier two years ago and my fiance and I feel very safe here. Reading this article, it makes me wish people would take into account all the good things police officers do that doesn't happen right in front of you.
Good luck Sgt. Lowe. WPD is way ahead of the game already in this arena. Your blog alone is a great way to interact with the community. The column will be icing on the cake. Pasadena ran a successful column for a number of years in the Star News. Keep it up WPD!
I think a column is a great idea. I'm looking forward to it!
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