It’s a call I won’t forget.
“Hello, this is Const. (not quite sure of his name now) from the Richmond RCMP, are you the mother of ….”
For a nanosecond, the world stood still.
“Yes.”
“Well, he’s fine,” says the good constable. “In fact, I’m phoning to tell you your son made a good decision today.”
Oh, really. Not if you’re calling, I’m thinking.
But, yes, he actually did make a good decision. Of course, that was only after he’d made the really bad decision to attempt a crossing of the Fraser River at London Landing, on slippery wet logs, as he and his friend ventured to Shady Island. They were 12 years old at the time.
The “good” decision was deciding, part way out, to turn around and come back to shore.
Okay, I’ve told this story before, but, as my 90-year-old dad says (if actions speak louder than words) a good tale can’t be told too often.
My point here is about policing. The cop happened to be driving along Dyke Road when he saw the boys; he pulled over to have a friendly chat, generously focusing on the positive half of their decision-making process.
And then there was the time my daughter called 911 “by accident.” Again, an officer came out, had a friendly chat and even gave her a “positive ticket,” a pass to a local swimming pool or skating rink.
Since Supt. Ward Clapham left Richmond RCMP, I haven’t heard so much about these kind of outreach initiatives. Granted, there is always talk about community policing, but Clapham seemed to put extra resources into fostering positives relationships, particularly with youth.
So, I was interested to learn about our local detachment’s current “Coffee with a Cop” initiative (see page 13), an invitation to anyone to join them for a cuppa and talk about anything from neighbourhood break-ins to how to join the force.
One of the complaints residents, and certainly city councillors, have about the Richmond detachment is that it attracts young recruits who no sooner figure out the lay of the land before they’re moving onto another jurisdiction.
In fact, this has been used as an argument in favour of replacing the RCMP with a local, independent police force, whose members would, presumably, be more invested in the community.
But regardless what policing model we use, the key is building relationships, making connections and having conversation. Certainly, that’s what I’ve found in journalism. While meetings matter, the best stories are usually found in the hallways — even washrooms.
Coffee with a Cop may not bust a drug cartel, but if it encourages one kid to make a “good decision,” or helps us all feel more connected, we, indeed, will be creating a safer community.
