Our study of connections continues. Today’s guest is Chief Ana Lalley of the Elgin Police Department. She builds connections every day, but they were particularly evident as the police department celebrated Halloween. (Her favorite holiday, I’m told.)

Here is what she said:

Community policing at the core is a partnership between the community and their police department who work in unity to identify and solve concerns with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for residents.  However, community policing is much more than that.  The drop in crime rates that a community may experience or the improved conditions in a neighborhood are the tangible outcomes of a police department working with the community but the intangibles…trust, respect, mutual understanding, communication, and care, are what sustains these outcomes.   

 When a police department embraces the philosophy of community policing, true and meaningful relationships are built that can transcend barriers.  These barriers may be from past experiences, historical events, or a perception, and can be a hindrance to building true connections that benefit both the community and the police department.  Take for example, an event that a department holds for the community…a coffee with a cop, open house, or citizen police academy.  The event is what brings people together, but the interactions that happen where true engagement occurs, builds the foundation for a better community.  At these events, police officers who actively listen (to both the compliment and the criticism), find perspective, and genuinely believe in the ‘serve’ component of ‘serving and protecting’ begin to lay the foundation for the tangibles of community policing, but more importantly, the intangibles.   

It is always better to leave something, some place, or someone better that when we first arrived…and this happens when genuine connections and relationships are nurtured, fostered, celebrated, and appreciated.  When police departments subscribe to the community policing philosophy and truly dedicate themselves to their community…magic happens.   

Chief Ana Lalley  

Magic…and joy. At a police station. I would have never thought this. Don’t laugh. I learned to hug from the Elgin Police Department. I have been a police chaplain for ten years. Some of what I do in that role is very serious. Death notifications. Death investigations. Sad. Necessary. Handled as best we can with compassion. Often at somebody’s worst possible moment. No one wants to see a police officer and a chaplain show up at their front door.  

And yet, community policing as Chief Lalley says can make magic. It builds connections in the community. And trust. And yesterday I saw them build joy. One part of community policing are community events. I have participated in several through the years, National Night Out in August. Halloween Trick-or-Treat at the Station. And yes, even Christmas.  

This year the chaplains and the social workers combined to bring Inside-Out, the Disney movie, to life. I was Joy. (OK I know it’s my middle name!) Al Keating, the senior police chaplain was Fear. Some kids really were scared of him. Many smiled when they saw us. Some wanted photos with us. And the look of joy throughout the station was priceless. Yes, I found Joy at the police station.