The Allentown police department is stepping-up its outreach in the community and giving those who they reach something to remember them by.
Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Police Chief Glen Dorney announced the kick-off of the Community Engagement 365 program this morning during a news conference in City Council Chambers.
The goal of the program is to have officers meet members of the community daily, on a non-call response instance, to simply meet and form a respectful relationship. That encounter would be marked with a keepsake item or age relevant item bearing the insignia of the department and a slogan such as “Working Together to Build a Better Allentown.”
Dorney said, “By engaging our community during encounters such as this, we can work together to establish bonds in our neighborhoods to build trust and mutual respect. Through these relationships, we can help reduce crime and increase neighborhood safety. The keepsake item will be a token of that relationship and a daily reminder of the commitment of the department toward building positive, mutually respectful relationships with our community.”
“The department has been encouraging officers to get out of their cars when possible and establish relationships with residents of the neighborhoods,” said Pawlowski. “Community Engagement 365 puts an emphasis on that effort and an adult looking at that keepsake item or a child with a football or other sports item hopefully will look on the members of the department as new friends and allies.”
Upside Allentown has provided $500 to get the program started with another $2,000 from the city budget for this year. Upside Allentown is providing $3,000 for the program in 2018.
Dorney says the program can have far-reaching impact. “If each officer working has a mutually respectful encounter with one member of the community each day, we can form thousands of these relationships each year.”
A bearded Dorney also took the opportunity to announce the start of the department’s “No-Shave November” program.
“No Shave November” allows officers to forgo the policy on shaving for a $20 donation per month (November and December only). Each month’s total will be donated to charitable causes.
November’s donation will be given to local charities to be determined by community input via the department’s Facebook page. Suggestions are being accepted until November 15.
December’s donation money, to include a match of up to $1,000 from Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #10, will be used by officers to take underprivileged children holiday shopping.
Information Provided By:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov
