3 secrets of community engagement updated

3

by The R Simmons Group

SECRETS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN LAW

ENFORCEMENTSOLVING CRIME WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

The best indicator ofcommunity trust is…

...the presence of vibrant information sharing that enables the community

to become an extension of your police department.

Your community members may see the mission of reducing the fear of crime as something intangible, but

....with data-driven solutions you can inform them of the conditions that

invite crime so they become partners in the reduction of fear and crime.

The Fortune 500 list was started in 1955

Innovators displaced 66% of the 1955 list by 1985.

Source: Kaufmann Foundation

Secret #1Give to Get.

How does your police department deliver on its mission?

Is the community a willing partner that provides enough information to

fuel your department?

What holds the community back from freely sharing information, and how

can you change that?

Your police department must strive to gain the community’s trust

To gain trust you must be transparent, and keep the community informed.

Transparency, and freely sharing information builds a relationship

based on trust

With trust the relationship is transformed from a transactional one,

to a true partnership

This has been demonstrated by police departments participating in the

police data initiative.

Just as the NYPD adopted a transparency policy when it comes to data, your police department can not just share random information. It must listen to the community and provide valuable information.

Transparency is only one side of the coin; how receptive is your

department to receiving and then acting upon information in a timely

manner?

Is it convenient for all community members to share information, even

time sensitive information?

You should challenge assumptions on what engagement can be

The community must know that you are open to input at any time

Your department can create new ways to engage the community, while increasing effectiveness in crime

prevention and response

Technology provides new engagement opportunities that are just as rich as

traditional methods.

.. and allows your residents to be active partners in reducing and

preventing crime in their communities

Good intelligence will always be good, regardless of how it is received!

So you must communicate with community members wherever they

are, and on whatever device they choose

This will empower community members to provide quality

information, and increase transparency as well.

A ready, willing, transparent, and receptive police department shows you are ready, willing, and able to have a deep conversation with the

community

.. and invites community members to be active partners in reducing and

preventing crime.

Secret #2Embrace the evolution

of information flow

For many the preferred method of communication has changed

Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat have ushered in the era of short, direct, and

nonverbal communication

Many people routinely engage in quick, easy, conversations via mobile

devices

Presenting your thoughts in 140 characters is convenient because the

pace of life has increased

Texting is the most widely used

smartphone service, with 97% of

Americans texting at least once a day,

while only 41% of U.S. homes now

have land lines

Police departments should embrace this shift in communication

preferences

Embracing preferred communication styles can maximize the volume of

information flow

Police departments proved they could be effective at increasing safety, and

decreasing response times when they adapted 911 systems to

accommodate cell phones.

We must do the same when it comes to technology and communication

preferences

Community engagement should never be seen as one size fits all

An anytime, place, or form communication strategy is good for

both your department and the community

Secret #3Know what drives yourcommunity to engage

Every police department should know what drives its community to engage

It will help to increase the volume and quality of information flow

The answer lies in the basics- who, what, when, and how

Who is sharing, what are they sharing, when are they sharing, and how are

they sharing?

These answers will help you engage with the community in a way that

invites more input

....and help your police department anticipate and prepare for changes in

the community ,and community members’ communication

preferences

This will drive the flow of quality information, but constant

improvement takes consistent measurement.

People and times will change so adjustments will be needed

Quality information sharing takes constant monitoring and measuring of what is coming in, where it is coming

from, and what it tells you

You will need a consistent measurement strategy to know how

both why some community members choose to engage, and why other

members do not.

Collecting and evaluating the data is important, and needed to make

adjustments that show the community your police department

does not take them for granted

Time to acton the

3 Secrets

To effectively engaging your community your department must

focus on people, process, and technology

People

You police department must show the community it is valued

Gaining trust with transparency and effective communication ensures the community will see your department

as a willing partner

Process

Your department must focus on, and show it values two-way

communication

It should regularly share valuable information that affects the

community

..and show a willingness to listen to and act on community information

Technology

Your department should provide both traditional and nontraditional touch

points

New technology platforms make it easy for community members to share information at their place and time of

choice

Your police department should accommodate these communications

preferences

Technology choices should also be able to capture valuable data that can

analyze how and why community members are engaging

Technology shows your department has a commitment to share and

receive valuable information from all community members

Community engagement is your department's best tool, and you

should balance and continue to learn how people, process, and technology

drive engagement

To find out how the R Simmons Group can help you drive community

engagement go toThe R Simmons Group