As the old adage goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Policing is no different. Over the years, policing has evolved, but community expectations of service delivery have not changed.
The Delta Police Department recently implemented its 2018-2022 Community Safety Plan. In developing the plan, we surveyed the public and held stakeholder feedback sessions in order to understand what matters to the community and what the public wants us to focus on over the next five years. While we have developed a plan that is fine-tuned to modern issues such as mental health and the opioid drug crisis, the basic fundamentals have not changed.
In 2005, a public survey of the Delta Police Department was completed. The public desired increased police visibility and efficient response times and were concerned about youth crime and traffic safety. They also expected professionalism, courtesy and consistent service. The 2018 Community Safety Plan survey was reflective of these same public expectations, 13 years later.
The true value in our public feedback, however, is related to the safety of our communities. If we were to survey our citizens and find out that people feared violent crime or gang activity it would indicate far more significant issues. The fact that concerns focus on service quality and proactive strategies indicates that Delta police are meeting public needs and that our communities are safe.
Recognizing that the fundamental expectations of the public have remained relatively constant over the years allows us to fine-tune our service delivery based on emerging trends. Whether we are dealing with at-risk youth, changing demographics, residential and commercial development, or changes to traffic infrastructure, we are able to respond in an efficient and effective manner.
Today’s issues are different that those in 2005. Social media was only in its infancy, no one had heard of fentanyl, and mental health was not a “police problem.” Policing continues to evolve from cut-and-dry law enforcement to a far more nuanced approach to public safety.
But with all of the changes, the citizens of Delta expect what they have in the past: visibility of the police, consistency in service delivery and professionalism. And we intend to deliver on those expectations.
Neil Dubord is the chief constable of the Delta Police Department.
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