How police and the public can create safer neighborhoods together | Tracie Keesee

Summary

In this powerful speech, an African-American female police officer with over 25 years of experience reflects on her role in public safety and the community's perception of her. She discusses the history of mistrust between the African American community and the police and introduces the concept of 'coproduction' of public safety, a collaborative approach involving the community and law enforcement. She highlights the NYPD's neighborhood policing strategy, emphasizing the importance of communication, implicit bias training, and addressing social issues to build trust and work towards a safer community.

Takeaways

• 📸 The speaker reflects on the historical and recurring nature of people marching for justice, noting a personal connection as a police officer since 1989.
• 👮‍♀️ As an African-American woman in law enforcement, the speaker acknowledges the improvements in societal conditions but also the ongoing internal conflict about her role in the community.
• 🤔 The speaker contemplates the perception of her by the community while in uniform, questioning whether her actions contribute positively or negatively to public safety.
• 🔍 Recognizing the need for a different approach in policing, the speaker believes in the potential for a method that upholds dignity and ensures justice, emphasizing that the police cannot achieve this alone.
• 🤝 The concept of 'coproduction of public safety' is introduced, suggesting a collaborative effort between the police and the community for a more effective and empathetic approach to safety.
• 📚 The speaker references the historical and complex relationship between the African-American community and the police, marked by mistrust and a desire for change through communication and understanding.
• 🏛 The 'Build the Block' initiative in New York is highlighted as a practical example of coproduction, where community members and police collaborate to address local issues and build trust.
• 📝 The importance of attending neighborhood meetings is stressed, as these gatherings facilitate direct interaction between community members, the NYPD, and neighborhood coordinating officers (NCOs).
• 🚔 The role of NCOs in addressing community concerns, such as noise complaints and traffic issues, is emphasized, showcasing how collaboration can lead to tangible improvements.
• 🛡 The speaker discusses the need for police officers to understand and confront implicit biases, which can influence decision-making and potentially harm community relations.
• 💪 The internal culture of law enforcement is addressed, with the speaker advocating for support systems within the police force to help officers deal with trauma and stress.
• 🌐 The speaker acknowledges the broader social issues that intersect with law enforcement, such as mental health and education, and the importance of addressing these in the context of public safety.

Q & A

What is the speaker's background and when did she become a police officer?

The speaker is an African-American woman who has been in the police force for over 25 years. She took her oath to become a police officer in 1989.

What does the speaker believe about the changes in public safety over the years?

The speaker believes that things have gotten better in terms of public safety, but she also acknowledges that there is still room for improvement, particularly in how the community perceives and interacts with the police.

What concept does the speaker introduce as a solution to improve public safety?

The speaker introduces the concept of 'coproduction of public safety,' which involves collaboration between the police and the community to create a safer environment.

What is the 'coproduction' theory and who developed it?

The 'coproduction' theory was developed by Elinor Ostrom in the 1970s. It involves bringing people with separate expertise and lived experiences together to produce new knowledge and ideas.

How does the 'Build the Block' initiative in New York work?

'Build the Block' is an initiative where residents can go to buildtheblock.nyc, enter their address, and find out about neighborhood meetings. Attending these meetings allows for collaboration between NYPD officers and community members to address local issues.

What role do Neighborhood Coordinating Officers (NCOs) play in the coproduction of public safety?

NCOs are part of the community meetings and collaborate with various departments, such as the Department of Transportation, to address issues like speeding and noise complaints, working together to find solutions that improve public safety.

Why is it important for police officers to understand implicit bias and how does it affect their decision-making?

Understanding implicit bias is crucial for police officers because these unconscious stereotypes can influence their split-second decisions, potentially leading to detrimental outcomes. Training in implicit bias helps officers make more informed and fair decisions.

How does the treatment of officers within the police organization affect their behavior with the community?

The treatment of officers within the organization is critical as it impacts how they interact with the community. If officers feel supported and are provided with resources like mental health services, they are more likely to behave positively and build trust with the community.

What are some of the social issues that have historically been associated with law enforcement?

Some of the social issues historically associated with law enforcement include mental health and education, where police have often been involved in enforcing legislative racial desegregation rather than providing public safety.

What are the three fundamental ideologies the speaker believes are necessary for moving forward with the coproduction of public safety?

The three fundamental ideologies are: 1) No more wallowing in the past, but moving forward together; 2) Embracing lived experiences and histories, ensuring progress without reverting to harmful past practices; 3) Acknowledging that truth and facts can be painful, but inaction is no longer acceptable.

How does the speaker suggest the community and police can work together to address issues like speeding in neighborhoods?

The speaker suggests that by working together, including discussions with NCOs and collaboration with the Department of Transportation, the community and police can find solutions such as speed bumps and proper signage to address speeding issues.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Reflections on Policing and Community Relations

The speaker, an African-American female police officer with over 25 years of experience, reflects on her career and the evolution of her understanding of the complex relationship between the police and the community. She acknowledges the improvements in racial dynamics but also the persistent challenges of mistrust and the need for a new approach to public safety. The concept of 'coproduction' of public safety is introduced, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and collaboration to ensure justice and preserve dignity. The speaker discusses the historical context of policing practices, such as 'stop, question, and frisk,' and how they have impacted community relations. She advocates for a shift towards building relationships and trust, one block at a time, through initiatives like 'Build the Block,' which encourages community meetings and the involvement of neighborhood coordinating officers (NCOs) to address local issues collaboratively.

05:01

🛡️ Reimagining Public Safety Through Coproduction

This paragraph delves deeper into the concept of coproduction in public safety, highlighting the need for officers to understand the historical significance of their uniforms and to challenge traditional narratives that may hinder progress. Implicit bias training is underscored as crucial for officers making rapid decisions, potentially influenced by unconscious stereotypes. The importance of organizational support for officers, including mental health services and peer support, is emphasized to ensure they can perform effectively while maintaining community trust. The speaker also addresses the broader social issues that intersect with law enforcement, such as mental health and education, and the historical role of policing in racial segregation. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for a new approach to community engagement, recognizing the need for patience and understanding, and the importance of addressing the community's health and resilience. Three fundamental ideologies are proposed for moving forward: abandoning divisive narratives, embracing lived experiences and history, and acknowledging the necessity of truth and action in the coproduction of public safety.

Keywords

💡Public Safety

Public safety refers to the protection of the general public from harm, whether it be from criminal activity, accidents, or disasters. In the video's theme, it is the overarching goal of the speaker's work as a police officer and the focus of the community's desire for a secure environment. The script mentions 'coproduction of public safety' as a collaborative effort involving both the police and the community to achieve this goal.

💡African-American Community

The African-American community is a significant demographic in the United States with a unique history and set of experiences, particularly concerning race relations and law enforcement. The script discusses the painful relationship between this community and the police, marked by mistrust and a history of social injustice, which is a key factor in the speaker's reflections on her role as a police officer.

💡Police Officer

A police officer is a law enforcement agent responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing laws, and ensuring public safety. The speaker identifies herself as an African-American woman in this role, which provides a personal perspective on the complexities of policing and the community's perception of officers, as seen in her contemplation of how she is perceived in uniform.

💡Coproduction

Coproduction in the context of the video refers to a collaborative approach where different stakeholders, including the police and community members, contribute their expertise and experiences to produce better outcomes in public safety. The script explains this concept as a theory by Elinor Ostrom and illustrates its application in New York's 'Build the Block' initiative.

💡Implicit Bias

Implicit bias refers to the unconscious stereotypes and attitudes that can influence our judgments and actions without our awareness. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of police officers understanding and addressing their implicit biases to make fair and safe decisions, particularly in high-pressure situations.

💡Mental Health

Mental health is the state of an individual's psychological and emotional well-being. The script touches on the role of law enforcement in dealing with mental health issues, which are often intertwined with public safety concerns. It suggests that a more comprehensive approach involving other professionals and community support is needed.

💡Community Relations

Community relations pertain to the interactions and connections between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The video emphasizes the importance of building positive relationships through communication and understanding, as part of the coproduction of public safety, which is exemplified by the 'Build the Block' program.

💡Trust

Trust is a fundamental aspect of the relationship between law enforcement and the community. The script discusses the need for trust to be rebuilt through transparent communication and collaborative efforts, as it is essential for effective public safety and police-community relations.

💡Deescalation

Deescalation is a technique used by law enforcement to resolve potentially violent situations without resorting to force. The speaker mentions the importance of training in deescalation tactics for police officers, which is part of the broader effort to improve policing practices and enhance public safety.

💡Legislative Racial Desegregation

Legislative racial desegregation refers to the historical policies and laws aimed at ending racial segregation, particularly in the United States. The script acknowledges the role of law enforcement in enforcing these policies and the need to address the historical context in current discussions about public safety and community relations.

💡Peer Support

Peer support involves colleagues providing emotional, psychological, or practical help to one another, especially in high-stress professions like law enforcement. The video emphasizes the importance of peer support and mental health services for police officers as part of the coproduction of public safety, recognizing the impact of officer well-being on community relations.

Highlights

The speaker is an African-American woman with over 25 years of experience as a police officer, reflecting on her role and impact on the community.

The speaker acknowledges the historical mistrust between the African American community and the police.

The concept of 'coproduction of public safety' is introduced as a collaborative approach involving the community and law enforcement.

Elinor Ostrom's theory of coproduction is explained, emphasizing the importance of combining expertise and lived experiences to create new knowledge.

The 'Build the Block' initiative in New York is highlighted as an example of coproduction in action, with community members and police working together.

The importance of attending neighborhood meetings to foster relationships and address community concerns is emphasized.

Neighborhood Coordinating Officers (NCOs) are introduced as key players in the coproduction process, collaborating with various stakeholders.

A real-life example from Washington Heights demonstrates the effectiveness of the coproduction approach in addressing community issues like noise complaints.

The role of NCOs in collaborating with the Department of Transportation to address speeding issues in neighborhoods is discussed.

The need for police officers to understand the history and power of their uniforms and to set aside old narratives is highlighted.

Implicit bias training for police officers is discussed as a crucial component of modern policing and decision-making.

The impact of how officers are treated within the police organization on their behavior with the community is explored.

The importance of providing support for officers, such as peer support and mental health services, is emphasized for the coproduction of public safety.

The speaker calls for acknowledging the social issues that are often addressed by law enforcement, such as mental health and education, and the need for a collaborative approach.

The need for community voices to be heard and included in the coproduction process, even if they are not always ready or willing to participate, is recognized.

The speaker asserts that there is a better way forward through the coproduction of public safety, grounded in the NYPD's neighborhood policing philosophy.

Three fundamental ideologies for moving forward together are presented: no more wallowing in the past, embracing lived experiences and histories, and the necessity of truth and action.

Transcripts

You know, my friends, I look at this photograph

and I have to ask myself,

you know, I think I've seen this somewhere before.

People marching in the street for justice.

But I know it's not the same photograph that I would have seen,

because I wouldn't take my oath to be a police officer until 1989.

And I've been in the business for over 25 years.

And identifying as an African-American woman,

I know things have gotten better.

But even as I learned about public safety,

I wondered if what I was doing on the street

was hurting or harming the community.

And I often wondered if, you know, how did they perceive me,

this woman in uniform?

But there is one thing that I knew.

I knew there was a way that we could do this, probably, different or better.

A way that preserved dignity and guaranteed justice.

But I also knew that police could not do it alone.

It's the coproduction of public safety.

There is a lot of history with us.

You know, we know loss.

The relationship between

the African American community and the police is a painful one.

Often filled with mistrust.

It has been studied by social scientists,

it has been studied by government,

all both promising, you know, hopeful new ways and long-term fixes.

But all we want is to be safe.

And our safety is intertwined.

And that we know, in order to have great relationships

and relationships built on trust,

that we're going to have to have communication.

And in this advent and this text of the world that we've got going on,

trying to do this with social media,

it's a very difficult thing to do.

We also have to examine our current policing practices,

and we have to set those things aside that no longer serve us.

So, in New York, that meant "stop, question and frisk."

That meant really holding up the numbers as opposed to relationships.

And it really didn't allow the officers the opportunity

to get to know the community in which they serve.

But you see, there is a better way.

And we know -- it's called coproduction.

So in the 1970s, Elinor Ostrom came up with this theory,

really called coproduction, and this is how it works.

You bring people into the space that come with separate expertise,

and you also come with new ideas and lived experience,

and you produce a new knowledge.

And when you produce that new knowledge,

and you apply this theory to public safety,

you produce a new type of public safety.

And so, in New York, it feels like this.

It is called building relationships, literally one block at a time.

And it's "Build the Block."

So this is how it works.

You go to buildtheblock.nyc, you put in your address.

And up pops location, date and time of your neighborhood meeting.

The important part of this is you've got to go to the meeting.

And once you go to that meeting,

there, of course, will be NYPD,

along with officers and other community members.

What's important about bringing, now, the lived experience into this space

to produce new knowledge

is that we have to have a new way of delivering it.

So the new way of delivering it

is through what we call neighborhood coordinating officers, or NCOs.

And so, also in this meeting are the NCOs,

the what we call 911 response cars,

sector cars, detectives,

all of us working together to collaborate in this new way

to reduce crime.

And what's interesting about this is that we know that it works.

So, for example, in Washington Heights.

At a community meeting, there was a bar, up in Washington Heights,

and the neighbors were complaining about outcry and noises.

So in their conversations with their NCO,

they talked about, you know, sound barriers,

different ways to sort of approach this.

Is there a different way we can direct traffic?

And of course now they have relatively quieter bar nights.

So, another issue that always comes up in neighborhoods is speeding.

How many of you in here have ever had a speeding ticket?

Raise your hand.

Oh, higher, come on!

There's more than that, this is New York.

So those are other issues that brought to the NCO.

Speeding -- what the NCOs do

is they collaborate with the Department of Transportation,

they look at issues such as speed bumps and signage and all types of things.

And when we come together to create this different type of policing,

it also feels different.

The coproduction of public safety also means

that officers need to understand

the history and the power of their uniforms.

They're going to have to set aside old historical narratives

that do not serve them well.

And that means they have to learn about implicit bias.

Implicit biases are shortcuts the brain makes

without us really knowing it.

They're stereotypes that often influence our decision making.

And so, you can imagine,

for police officers who have to make split-second decisions

can be a very detrimental decision-making point.

That's why the NYPD, along with other departments throughout the United States,

are training all of their officers in implicit bias.

They have to understand that learning about their implicit biases,

having good training, tactics and deescalation

and understanding how it impacts your decision making

makes us all safer.

We also know how officers are treated inside the organization

impacts how they're going to behave with the community at large.

This is critical.

Especially if you want to have a new way forward.

And we know that we have to care for those folks that are on the frontline.

And they have to recognize their own trauma.

And in order to do that, us as leaders have to lift them up

and let them know that the narratives of being strong men and women --

you can set those aside, and it's OK to say you need help.

And we do that by providing peer support,

employee assistance, mental health services.

We make sure all of those things are in place,

because without it --

it's a critical component to the coproduction of public safety.

Equally as important is that we also have social issues

that are often laid at the feet of law enforcement.

So, for example, mental health and education.

Historically, we've been pulled into those spaces

where we have not necessarily provided public safety

but have enforced long, historical legislative racial desegregation.

We have to own our part in history.

But we also have to have those folks at the table

when we're talking about how do we move forward with coproduction.

But understanding this,

we also have to understand that we need to have voices come to us

in a different way.

We also have to recognize

that the community may not be willing or ready

to come to the table to have the conversation.

And that's OK.

We have to be able to accept that.

By acknowledging it, it also means that we care for the community's health

and for their resiliency as well.

That's another key component.

We also have to acknowledge

that there are those folks that are in our community that are here --

they do want to do us harm.

We also have to recognize that we have community members

who did not get the benefits of a long-ago dream.

We also have to acknowledge

that we have put faith in a system that sometimes is broken,

hoping that it would give us solutions for better.

But we cannot walk away.

Because there is a better way.

And we know this because the NYPD's neighborhood policing philosophy

is grounded in the coproduction of public safety.

And in order for us to move forward together,

with our family, our friends and for our health,

we have to make sure that we focus this way.

And in order to do that,

there are three fundamental ideologies that we must all agree to.

Are you ready?

Oh, I'm sorry, one more time -- are you ready?

Audience: Yes!

Tracie Keesee: Now, that's better, alright.

The first one: There's no more wallowing in the why.

We know why.

We must move forward together. There's no more us versus them.

Number two:

We must embrace the lived experience and our histories,

and we must make sure we never go back to a place where we cannot move forward.

And number three:

We must also make sure

that truth and telling facts is painful.

But we also know that no action is no longer acceptable.

And agree?

Audience: Yes.

TK: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't hear you, do you agree?

Audience: Yes!

TK: So we do know there is a better way.

And the better way is the coproduction of public safety.

Thank you.

(Applause)