Sgt. Evie West of the Cleveland Police Department
CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Cleveland Police Department has announced the creation of the Community Relations Unit, which combines a number of its public outreach and accreditation functions under one umbrella.
Lt. Scott Bronze, who has served as the police department's accreditation officer for eight years, has been appointed to command the unit. He is joined by Sgt. Evie West, who has served as a training and public information officer since 2008.
West has served the department since 1996; Bronze joined it in 2001. Both Bronze and West recently were promoted.
Chief Mark Gibson and his command staff "understand the importance of public relations," West said in a statement.
"The Community Relations Unit will be responsible for reviewing policies and maintaining our accreditation, crime prevention, public relations and public information," she said. "We are excited about this new unit and the endless opportunities there will be to bridge any gaps between our department and our city."
The unit's creation dovetails with a number of community-minded initiatives the police department has been pursuing over the last year, including an active focus on diversity within the force.
On a number of occasions Cleveland City Councilman Avery Johnson has praised "frank discussions" by the Cleveland Police Department's Diversity Committee.
"We're dealing with perceptions - true, false or indifferent," said Johnson, citing conversations he said have touched upon important but uncomfortable issues.
Last fall, the department hosted an annual community reception intended to encourage prospective recruits to apply for future vacancies, allowing certified law enforcement officers from other agencies to directly engage informally.
"When you combine diversity and experience, you've got a winner," said law enforcement consultant Larry Wallace, who assisted the police department with a comprehensive re-evaluation and revision of its policies and procedures last summer. "Diversity is everyone."
The department's diversity initiatives have received encouragement from other city leaders, with Councilman Richard Banks saying the public expects the police department to include more minorities and women.
The Cleveland Police Department also has taken to billboards and social media to connect with the public.
The department regularly updates its Facebook page with traffic and weather advisories; assorted public service announcements, including requests for assistance with identifying suspected criminals; and insider perspectives of police officers in training.
The department's Facebook page also shares ongoing police officer engagements with students at local schools, including a recent presentation given to a driver's education class and a live demonstration of the bomb squad's remote water cannon robot.
Jennifer Miles, an engineering and computer-assisted drafting teacher at Walker Valley High School, praised the department's willingness to engage students during a Cleveland State Community College technology camp last summer.
"The water cannon robot is always a big hit," she said.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.