A diverse group of community members shared their perspectives on Lawrence police Saturday, voicing concerns ranging from how officers could show more compassion and preparedness in crises to making downtown feel safer. Several dozen community members gathered at Lawrence High School for a partnership workshop hosted by the Lawrence Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice. The two-part workshop aims to “improve trust and develop partnerships between police and community members. Participants split into six small groups to identify the positives and negatives of the LPD’s interactions with the community, ultimately narrowing it down to three “barriers.” A second session next weekend will focus on solutions. Facilitators wanted groups to be organized “homogeneously.” One included law enforcement and city employees, and another included members of civil rights advocacy organizations, for instance. Groups identified points ranging from positive and upbeat moments such as citywide celebrations to critical conversations about crisis control. At the end of the workshop, people in attendance voted on the top five most pressing issues by placing dot stickers on pages where each group listed the top barriers they identified. The No. 1 issue, community members voted, was “A sense of them vs. us.”
Source: Lawrence Times
