The Danville Police Department has announced that they have completed a pledge to enhance trust and collaboration between police and the communities served.
The pledge is part of an initiative called the Trust Building Campaign which was started by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders. To join the Trust Building Campaign, law enforcement agencies must pledge to implement 25 key policies and leading practices within a 36-month period.
According to a release from the department, Chief Scott Booth made the decision to join the Trust Building Campaign because the Danville community is important to him, not just for safety and security, but also to educate people on what the department does and to build strong relationships between police and neighbors. One of the first goals of Chief Booth was to introduce community policing in Danville that would allow residents to have a strong relationship with the department so that in the event of a traumatic incident, they could trust that the department would respond quickly. It has also led to a large reduction in violent crime and focused policing efforts since 2018.
By completing the Trust Building Campaign Pledge, the Danville Police Department established policies and trainings, conducted assessments, and developed strategies within six focus areas (bias-free policing; use of force; leadership and culture; recruitment, hiring, and retention; victim services; and community relations) designed to encourage positive community-police partnerships that promote safe, effective interactions, create strategies to prevent and reduce crime, and improve the wellbeing and quality of life for all.
The IACP is encouraged by the efforts of agencies as they incorporate the pledge’s concepts into their everyday operations. When trust building is prioritized, community members and the police benefit from relationships focused on unified visions, goals, and values. Building and rebuilding trust in the community and around the world is critical, and must remain a primary objective.
The greatest benefit in taking the Trust Building Campaign Pledge has been reaching people where they are and responding directly to the needs of neighbors as they let officers know what’s affecting their neighborhoods, whether it be property crimes or violent crimes.
“Over the last five years the Danville community has experienced an awakening when it comes to residents and reducing violent crime. Relationships have been crafted with community members that have stepped up to be leaders and voices in their own neighborhoods. We have experienced a large reduction in violent crime, with 2020 being a 35-year low,” Chief Booth said. “Reducing violent crime and creating safe neighborhoods cannot happen overnight, nor can it happen without community support. The community’s response when an incident occurs has been overwhelming, and we thank each one of them for wanting to keep their community a safe place to live, work, play and grow.”
For more information about the Trust Building Campaign, visit the IACP’s website at https://www.theiacp.org/iacp-trust-building-campaign.