Community policing vital

Mayor-elect David Condon, these should be your top priorities for the next chief of police: Support and retain the programs that work, e.g., neighborhood resource officers; retain only the best officers, e.g., Officer Tracie Douglas.

Exceptional personnel and measurable success must certainly be two of the key components to a productive police force. In my brief 18 years in West Central, neighborhood resource officers have been the ones that effect the most positive change. When given the opportunity to stay in an area and know the people and challenges firsthand, an officer can empower residents to act with respect and decency while addressing very difficult situations, including drug houses, negligent property owners and theft.

The officer that spends more time at block parties learning the names of residents is far more effective than the one who stays in the squad car. Recent and past events have highlighted the importance of the human factor. The common good is well-served by officers like Douglas, and I’d like to believe Spokane can move forward by taking a good look at what works and what doesn’t as new leadership is secured.

Connie Copeland Malone

Spokane