Police Panel #1

Question 1

Significant changes in policing over the years?

Answer 1

Technology (Automation); Member well-being (More support for officer mental & physical well-being); Reasons why people call the police (More non-criminal calls than in the past)

Question 2

Biggest challenges facing police in Lower Mainland?

Answer 2

Increasing violent crime & transience of offenders; resourcing of police agencies; keeping front-line officers healthy; growing expectations of police duties

Question 3

Role of education in policing?

Answer 3

Minimum education level to apply to most police agencies; education key in staying on top of modern standards

Question 4

Defining ‘good policing’?

Answer 4

Focus on community satisfaction and responding to feedback; still measure crime stats but also focus on acquiring public support

Question 5

How did the panelists suggest that police departments balance their resistance to change and the societal calls for change?

Answer 5

Move away from traditional expectations of how police function; give officers leniency to deal with situations using common sense; show public police can be trusted through transparency

Question 6

How are Lower Mainland police departments dealing with challenges?

Answer 6

Transit police looking to use tiered policing model (many tiers of officers w/ different roles); collaboration w/ community partners and outsourcing/integration of certain tasks