To the editor:
Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies, which support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques, to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder and fear of crime.
Community policing, recognizing that police rarely can solve public safety problems alone, encourages interactive partnerships with relevant stakeholders. The range of potential partners is large, and these partnerships can be used to accomplish the two interrelated goals of developing solutions to problems through collaborative problem solving and improving public trust.
Since being sheriff, I have stressed to my officers that community policing is an important part of what we do. With 1,000 square miles, 25 townships and 30-plus small communities in the county, you may not see this working, but it’s taking place on a daily basis in some way.
It might be talking for 10 minutes outside a gas station with a deputy about a problem in the area. It might be coming to a presentation by our detectives about drugs, or a presentation by our school resource officer about Internet safety. These things are all about community policing and creating partnerships with you folks to keep all of us safe.
Now with respect to our K-9 program, and the idea that it should be fully funded by the county. We had a fully funded program, and when the K-9 was retired the county board refused to fund its replacement. We fought to bring the program back, but we were not given the funds.
Because of this, community members took it upon themselves to form the S.O.S. K-9 group and fund the K-9 program with donations. I can’t think of an other program that characterizes what community policing is all about than this. These folks are giving their time proudly doing what they believe is their civic duty to help the Sheriff’s Department. They gained the donations to fully fund the program, and gained enough funds to add a second K-9 to the program. Our K-9 officers have one of the hardest jobs in the county, maintaining their proficiency and keeping their K-9 partner in top condition, and they serve with pride.
Our K-9 officers will attend any public meeting they are requested to attend to promote the program, show what their K-9 can do, and talk to community members like yourselves about crime prevention and issues that your neighborhood is facing. I’m not sure how this is considered fund raising. It is community policing at its finest, and I am proud of the volunteers that have given so much time and energy to bring this program back and keep it running.
On Aug. 2, S.O.S K-9 held its annual golf outing and once again raised roughly $7,500 to fund our two K-9 units and handlers.
I thank S.O.S K-9 for taking on this task and working to provide the entire Shawano County area a safe and secure environment.
Randy Wright,
Shawano County sheriff
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