Stockton Police Part Of Department Of Justice Program To Improve Trust With Community
STOCKTON (CBS13) — The Stockton Police Department says it's using its best tool to fight crime—the community.
The Department of Justice is taking note, naming Stockton one of six cities that will be part of a multimillion-dollar national initiative to improve police trust.
Police Chief Eric Jones says he was proud to agree to it, but admits his officers have a lot of work to do.
The city of Stockton doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to crime. In 2012, the city set a record with 71 murders.
But things are changing.
On any given day, you'll see men in uniform walking through crowds, whether at the bus station or at a construction site.
"We're doing these projects here and they come around and their presence helps mitigate the problems around here," said Scott Paris.
This approach caught the attention of Attorney General Eric Holder, who named Stockton a national example for effective community policing.
"I'm very proud that the men and women of Stockton—a police department's work is being showcased," Jones said.
He credits the city's Ceasefire program, which dispatches officers, faith leaders and paid peacekeepers to problem communities.
"These are folks who generally have prior gang backgrounds so have credibility when talking to these young men," he said.
He doesn't deny the city's challenges. From high gang activity to high crime rates, including homicide. But that's what he's asking for the community's help.
"The days of police coming in to a neighborhood and defining how we're going to fight crime-those days don't exist anymore," he said.
The Stockton Police Department has recently come under fire for its use of force in the bank robbery hostage crisis, which ended in the death of a 41-year-old hostage. But some say that hardline tactic is part of keeping the city safe.
"They could only give so many passes before they start taking advantage of," Paris said.
As part of the national initiative, officers will soon team up with criminal law professors and researchers from prestigious universities, including Yale and UCLA.
The focus—enhancing what's already working and fixing what is not.
The plan will roll out in the next six months. The researchers will also go out into these communities with police officers and put out a report to help other cities learn best practices.