HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-02-26Community Advisory Board RationaleReasons for Establishing a Police Community Advisory Board (PCAB)
August 27, 2020
1. Current focus on proactive police reform. The mass protests of the past few
months are calling for change and reform of police practices across the nation.
Locally, the establishment of a Police Advisory Board would be a proactive step taken
by the police and community members to promote the best practices for police and
prevent potential police misconduct.
2. Changing town demographics. While Watertown has largely been a white
community, that is changing. There is a growing demographic of Black, Indigenous,
and People of Color (BIPoC), and the new dynamic that emerges from these changes
also calls for a reexamination of police practices.
3. Improved relationship with BIPoC communities. Including BIPoC representation
on the board could directly and positively impact the relationship between these
communities and the police in Watertown.
4. Growing concerns within Watertown about local policing. While the Watertown
Police Department generally enjoys the confidence of the community, there are
growing concerns expressed by some members of the community about the absence
of Black officers in the Department, the question of racial profiling and bias in
policing practice, the role police play in relation to BIPoC youth in the community,
the quality and nature of the anti -bias training that the force is expected to undergo,
the use of force policy, and the absence of an obvious and accessible complaint
process. A successful PCAB could work with the Chief to address such concerns and
improve policing for these communities.
5. Greater trust. In general, a PCAB could help build trust between police and
residents, through increased communication and transparency. Problems could be
solved more easily, or even prevented, with enhanced two-way communication.
Building trust is particularly important for BIPoC youth of Watertown, who often see
police through a lens of fear, rather than as positive mentors in their lives.
6. Sounding board for new policing approaches. Input from community members
would provide a different perspective and be a sounding board that could help the
Chief promote new approaches.
7. Greater mutual understanding. To the extent that a PCAB may present challenges
to the usual way of thinking, it can also lead to greater mutual understanding. A
PCAB offers an opportunity for the Chief and the department to learn more about the
community, while it similarly offers an opportunity for community members to learn
more about the complexities and challenges of policing.
8. Responding with courage and openness. Our society is changing; stepping into
the new challenges that change brings requires courage and openness, but doing so
will have its rewards, both for the Watertown Police Department and the community.