Dr. Melanye V. Smith, right, speaks with Captain Ricky Thomas, left, following a discussion about community policing with members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office’s Command Staff.
Prince Frederick, MD – The recent events in Baltimore City prompted one local law enforcement agency to pause and listen to a retired police officer-turned-consultant’s advice on community policing.
On Monday, May 4 the command staff of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, along with community leaders and members of media, attended Dr. Melanye V. Smith’s two-hour session on “Building Relationships of Trust—Community Policing.” The discussion took place at the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) Prince Frederick campus.
“She’s got her finger on the pulse,” said Assistant Sheriff Major Dave McDowell, who invited Smith to conduct the session.
Smith was a Metropolitan Police Department officer in Washington, DC for 25 years. She currently runs a Waldorf-based management consulting service. Previously, she taught computer forensics and directed CSM’s public safety and emergency preparedness.
“We have to be honest, open and transparent,” said Smith, who added that sheriff’s offices seem to do a better job of fostering good community relations that police departments do. Sheriff Mike Evans [R] opined that might be the case because the sheriff has the autonomy to act promptly and does not have to receive permission from another elected official.
Smith conceded that the 9/11 terrorists attacks “changed all of us, particularly law enforcement.” She later affirmed that “militarization of the police is not working. We have to find a way to manage what we do.”
The stressful nature of police work causes law enforcement agencies can pose problems in dealing with the public, Smith indicated. “Police officers live in a state of hyper-vigilance,” she said, adding that stress often leads to unclear thinking. “You just don’t come back to yourself right away. We all get hyped up.”
Police officers have to aid each other out in the field to assure that confrontations with individuals on the job don’t get out of hand. “Somebody has to be there to say ‘enough,’ ” said Smith. “Police officers have more power than judges because they make split-second decisions.”
The consultant encouraged the local sheriff’s office to conduct more training. “Training is the lifeblood of the organization,” she said. “Police culture mirrors training.”
One of the community leaders—Calvert NAACP Chapter President Joyce Freeland—stated that many people feel local police make too many motor vehicle stops, often for minor things like burned out tag lights.
“We take the minor stuff seriously so we don’t have the major problems,” said Evans.
It was pointed out by several officers that notorious criminals like Timothy McVeigh were apprehended by officers during routine traffic stops. Additionally, 90 percent of drug arrests are made as a result of routine traffic stops.
“It’s the way we talk to people,” said Smith. “Everybody deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Policing is not a career it’s a calling. You have to have a certain faith in humanity.”
During the start of her presentation Smith encouraged the agency to work on building and changing police/community relations. “This could be a model for the country,” she predicted. “But the police can’t do it alone.”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com