HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-09-CRC-rpt.pdf 1
Report of the Communications Relations Committee
to the
Board of Selectmen on:
Police — Youth Relations
September 1976
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In December 1975, the Board of Selectmen charged the Community Relations
Committee (C.R. C. ) with the task of determining whether or not a significant
number of Lexingtonians feel that a police-youth problem exists in the town. In
an effort to answer that charge, the Committee scheduled a series of open and
closed meetings and invited citizens who thought they had input into the subject
to come before it
The Committee heard from nearly 100 citizens through letters and numerous
public and private sessions. Their positions ranged far and wide on a variety of
issues; viewpoints were expressed that were both supportive and critical of youth,
the police, and the community The fact that a multitude of different viewpoints
surfaced on a wide variety of issues has led some on the Committee to conclude that
the major problem facing the town is one of different community-youth viewpoints
on key issues rather than a police-youth problem per se. They also feel that to
the degree that there are strains in the police-youth relationship, such strains
result from the fact that (a) some youth prefer to congregate away from their homes,
creating conflict with immediate neighborhood desires; (b) some youth prefer to
travel in groups, creating at times an imposing and threatening presence to which
the police must react when called; and (c) increased drinking on the part of youth
has resulted in numerous complaints by citizens which, in turn, has heightened
tensions between youth and the police.
The Committee feels there are perceptions and beliefs - not always or necessarily
backed up by concrete evidence - that were expressed at our meetings Issues raised,
in part, expressed a concern that there might be some instances of police procedures
that function inevitably to strain police-youth relations. These issues included
(1) alleged over-reacting to infractions and violations; (2) isolating the "hard core"
youngsters and taking an offensive posture towards them; and (3) discriminatory
enforcement
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Other participants at our meetings also expressed different perceptions and
beliefs — not always or necessarily backed up by concrete evidence — calling for
more concerted efforts on the part of agencies and institutions in and around our
community to deal with existing problems. These concerns included. (1) abdication
by other authority figures and institutions of their responsibilities; (2) over—
reaction of some youth and citizens to police performing their daily functions; and
(3) lack of positive measures to resolve problems created in the community by chronic
offenders.
In light of the above, C.R C. feels that the following steps should be adopted
by the Board of Selectmen to promote greater understanding of the needs of youth,
the desires of the community, and the role and responsibility of the police depart—
ment
1. Endorse and support an expanded youth program within the police department
At present the department spends an average of ten hours per month in the
schools, particularly at the elementary level. Station tours are provided
for elementary school children and talks are given on bicycle safety and
other subjects in the classroom. More time should be devoted to the schools
with the possible inclusion of a new course on police policy at the
secondary level.
2. Endorse and support the designating of a community relations officer within
the police department to provide spotlight articles on the members of the
department and to provide information to the public on issues which may
arise.
3 Endorse and support the police department's providing the general public
with a greater understanding of the department's position on sensitive
aspects of police procedures. This action would complement the work of
the Police Manual Committee which is currently underway and which is
supported by the C.R C.
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4 Set up a task force to evaluate and make recommendations concerning
the resources presently available to meet the social, economic,
recreational, and rehabilatory needs of all youth within the community
5 Sponsor programs within the town that are aimed at examining and/or
discussing the problem of teenage drinking and how best to handle it.
6 Encourage open channels of communication between youth and decision—
making bodies of our community
Respectfully submitted by•
Mr Christopher Anderson
Miss Sheila Busa
Mr David Cooper
Chief James Corr
Dr Bernard Harleston
Dr Howard Kassler
Miss Marcy Kritsick
Mrs. Ann Scigliano
Mrs. Sandra Shaw
Mrs. Patricia Swanson
Mr David Wilson, Chairman