The Future of Public Safety | Troy Riggs | TEDxWabashCollege

Summary

The speaker, a veteran police officer, reflects on his 30-year career and criticizes the outdated training methods for police officers, which focus on patrolling and arresting rather than addressing root causes of crime. He advocates for a data-driven approach to understand and tackle issues like mass incarceration, poverty, and mental health, emphasizing the need for a public safety initiative that includes financial security, behavioral health support, and assistance for those left behind. The speaker calls for community involvement and accountability from officials to develop strategies for a safer and more equitable society.

Takeaways

• 👮 The speaker, a veteran police officer, emphasizes the need for a reevaluation of police training methods, suggesting that current practices are outdated and incomplete.
• 🔍 The speaker calls for a data-driven approach to understand and address the root causes of crime, including financial security, behavioral health, and the needs of those left behind in society.
• 🏛️ There is a critique of the mass incarceration system in the U.S., highlighting its unfairness and the need to address disparities in sentencing based on where individuals live.
• 📊 The importance of local data is underscored to illustrate the concentration of crime and poverty in specific areas within cities, using Indianapolis as an example.
• 🏢 The speaker points out the high correlation between areas of poverty and crime, suggesting that traditional policing methods are insufficient to address these issues.
• 🤝 A collaborative approach involving various public safety stakeholders, including probation and parole officers, courts, and prosecutors, is advocated for a more holistic approach to crime prevention.
• 🏥 The connection between mental health and crime is highlighted, with the speaker noting that a significant percentage of police-related shootings involve individuals with mental health issues.
• 🍚 The script discusses the impact of addressing basic needs such as food security, using the example of Gleaners Food Bank in Indianapolis, which led to a noticeable reduction in crime.
• 🏡 The issue of reintegrating former prisoners into society is raised, with a focus on providing housing, jobs, and counseling to prevent recidivism.
• 🏘️ The Denver Opportunity Index is presented as a model for using data to understand and improve living conditions in specific areas, promoting a tailored approach to public safety.
• 📈 The speaker encourages citizens to engage actively with their local governments, demanding accountability and the use of data to develop effective community strategies.

Q & A

How long ago did the speaker take the oath to become a police officer?

The speaker took the oath to become a police officer 30 years ago.

What significant events did the speaker participate in during their career?

The speaker had conversations with two presidents about crime issues, sat down with two United States Attorney Generals to discuss juvenile crime, and testified before Congress on homeland security issues.

What does the speaker believe is the current state of police officer training?

The speaker believes that the current police officer training methodology is incomplete and has not evolved significantly in the past 30 years.

What does the speaker suggest is the role of data in addressing crime and public safety?

The speaker suggests that data is crucial for understanding what is happening in cities, revealing the ill effects of current policing methods, and informing strategies to address the root causes of crime.

What are the three pillars the speaker identifies as essential to public safety?

The three pillars identified by the speaker are financial security, behavioral health, and support for those left behind.

How does the speaker describe the situation in the six key areas of Indianapolis?

The speaker describes the situation as dire, with 4.7% of the population residing in areas that account for 27% of murders and 30% of non-fatal shootings, low education levels, high likelihood of mental health issues, and high unemployment rates.

What is the Denver Opportunity Index mentioned by the speaker?

The Denver Opportunity Index is a data-based tool that ranks census tracts in the city of Denver based on the three pillars of financial security, behavioral health, and support for those left behind, to understand the living conditions and needs of different areas.

What impact did the Gleaners Food Bank have on crime rates after addressing food insecurity in Indianapolis?

After addressing food insecurity by providing meals to people in areas of poverty, the Gleaners Food Bank observed a drop in crime rates by over ten percent a year later.

What is the significance of the speaker's call to action for American citizens?

The speaker's call to action encourages American citizens to get involved in their communities, use their time, talent, and resources to make a difference, and hold their elected officials accountable for using data to develop effective public safety strategies.

How does the speaker connect the issues in major cities to the Declaration of Independence?

The speaker connects the issues by stating that the lack of basic needs such as safety, education, and the ability to make ends meet hinders the realization of the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as outlined in the Declaration of Independence.