BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — A community working together.
The Bartlesville Police Department is reaching out to citizens to break down barriers and let them know they are there for them.
“You’ve got to get over some of the fear barriers," said Sgt. Jim Warring with BPD. "And some of the maybe potential history barriers. Or issues that certain people have had, law enforcement encounters and things like that.”
The department started these changes by holding meetings with local organizations that serve minority communities in the city. They got the idea after Chief Tracy Roles and Warring began discussing police departments and their relationships with their local communities. They want people in these communities to know that they will help them, no matter who they are.
“By them getting out in the community and showing the human side of their job is real big because it helps gain trust," said Lorront Carney, executive director of the Westside Community Center.
Another goal of the meetings is to share resources with other organizations. They discuss all types of services for issues from mental health and domestic violence to substance and sexual abuse.
“That goes hand in hand with what we as the service agencies if you will, do," Carney said. "So, if they can trust an authoritative figure then we can better help them and we can better serve them.”
The police department said they hope to make everyone feel welcome in Bartlesville.
“And that real community is the overall community and all the sub-communities that are there," Warring said. "They have to feel like they are a part of the overall picture and the only way you’re going to get that is to develop friendships.”
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