Policing in America: The Road to Reconciliation | Danielle Outlaw | TEDxPortland

Summary

The speaker, an African-American woman and the Chief of Police in Portland, emphasizes the importance of rebuilding trust between law enforcement and communities. She advocates for 21st Century Policing principles, which combine community engagement, accountability, and compassion. Drawing from her personal journey, she highlights how authority and humanity must coexist in policing. The speaker challenges outdated practices and calls for systemic change to foster diversity, inclusion, and better relations between police and communities. Her message is one of reconciliation, urging difficult conversations and partnerships to overcome historical divisions and create a more just society.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is a 41-year-old African-American woman and the chief of police in Portland, Oregon, from Oakland, California.
• 😀 The theme of the speech is about reconciliation and building bridges in communities, not just between humanity and authority, but showing that humanity can exist in authority itself.
• 😀 Law enforcement is under great scrutiny, and the job of a police officer has become much more complex due to changing community expectations and perceptions of the police.
• 😀 The speaker highlights her personal journey, including the negative perceptions she had of police growing up and her eventual positive experience with Officer Tim Sanchez, which inspired her to become a police officer.
• 😀 She emphasizes the need for humanity in authority, particularly through 21st-century policing, which combines community policing with other important aspects like trust, technology, and officer wellness.
• 😀 21st-century policing is not just a program but a philosophy that must be integrated into every action of law enforcement officers to be effective and foster trust in the community.
• 😀 There is a strong focus on building trust and legitimacy between the police and the community, especially in communities of color, as well as addressing the needs of underserved populations like those who are houseless or mentally ill.
• 😀 The speaker critiques the term 'community policing' as overly simplistic and emphasizes the need for it to be a philosophy interwoven into daily operations, not just a checkbox to tick off.
• 😀 A major goal is to create a future where diversity, trust, and community engagement are normalized, and where police officers are seen as guardians rather than authority figures to fear.
• 😀 The speaker calls for unusual conversations and partnerships between police departments and communities to create lasting change, acknowledging that reconciliation and resolution will require working through difficult challenges together.

Q & A

What is the primary theme of the speaker's message?

The primary theme is the importance of bridging humanity with authority, particularly in law enforcement, and the need for reconciliation and trust between police departments and the communities they serve.

How does the speaker relate her personal experiences to her work as a police chief?

The speaker shares personal experiences from her childhood and early interactions with law enforcement, which helped shape her understanding of policing. She contrasts her initial negative view of the police with later positive interactions that led her to pursue a career in law enforcement.

What is the significance of 21st century policing, according to the speaker?

21st century policing is a modern approach that emphasizes community engagement, building trust, legitimacy, and implementing policies and practices that promote crime reduction while being humane and compassionate. It's viewed as essential for reconciling fractured relationships between law enforcement and communities.

What does the speaker say about the current state of trust between police and communities, especially communities of color?

The speaker acknowledges that trust has been broken, particularly in communities of color, and emphasizes the need for police departments to rebuild that trust through meaningful engagement, transparency, and adherence to 21st century policing principles.

What is the speaker's perspective on the term 'community policing'?

The speaker views 'community policing' as a philosophy rather than a program. She criticizes the term as a cliché and argues that it should be embedded in the daily practices of law enforcement, focusing on visibility, accessibility, and building relationships with the community.

How does the speaker suggest police departments can improve their relationship with the communities they serve?

The speaker advocates for a shift in police culture where officers become more integrated into the community, engaging with residents and ensuring that police work is viewed through a lens of legitimacy and trust. She also calls for greater accountability and ensuring that policies align with community values.

Why does the speaker emphasize the need for 'unusual conversations' in achieving reconciliation?

The speaker emphasizes that traditional methods of resolving conflicts and achieving reconciliation have not been successful. She calls for unconventional approaches and difficult conversations to address deep-rooted issues, with the aim of building genuine partnerships between police and communities.

What is the role of police officers in the speaker's ideal vision of law enforcement?

In the speaker's ideal vision, police officers are seen as guardians who are respected and trusted by the community. They should be approachable, acknowledged for their integrity, and capable of building positive relationships with diverse groups, including people in marginalized communities.

What does the speaker mean by 'humanity in authority'?

The speaker suggests that authority in policing does not have to be devoid of humanity. By incorporating empathy, respect, and understanding into law enforcement practices, police can create stronger, more trustful relationships with the communities they serve.

How does the speaker tie the concept of authority to the bottom line in policing?

The speaker compares the bottom line in business (measured by profits) to the bottom line in policing, which she defines as the authority granted by the community. This authority is intangible and can only be earned through trust and legitimacy. If the community doesn't trust the police, they won't provide the authority needed for effective law enforcement.