Comm-unity Policing

This poem I wrote after I was clowning on World Environment Day in Canberra. Somehow because of my friendliness I found a policeman in the crowd. I suspected he was under-cover. Yet after our chat he gave me his card. So I felt inspired to write him this poem and sent it to him. He told me he circulated it around the police. We have so much to learn of human nature and the social problems that are beneath the surface. It requires developing an overall understanding not punishment I feel. I like the restorative justice model which has the perpetrator in front of the family and one that feels hurt, they discuss the impact on their lives and their feelings, it can have transformative effects. The process is to develop empathy and to see real people and face the problem not with punishment but understanding. If you emotionally disconnect and just think of yourself, then you probably won’t reform and will resent society. We need to learn from our mistakes and community service is a great way to reconnect people. I am sure there are cases where people won’t get it, but how do we help them to improve and find happiness, even if they remain in jail?

I did try to work with the police to set up conflict resolution and anti-bullying training for youth through community groups, unfortunately I just didn’t get a foothold. My vision is not zero tolerance it is acceptance, which means we accept the reality of youth today they are not living in the 1960’s to 1980’s. It is a different world today and requires different approaches. My feeling was we need to empower the community to solve its problems and take responsibility, that includes the business community. If we look at the hours people work, that has a big impact on family breakdown and stress levels. How do we structure work? how do we teach people how to have lasting relationships that are functional and healthy? Key questions.

I believe in service not force, yet many feel that the youth today need discipline and to learn respect. I understand where this thinking comes from but in my experience I feel they need to feel a sense of belonging, to be active in something socially constructive to feel proud of themselves, many young people these days are in split families, watch violence in the media and don’t understand the importance of service, they seek self interest. I did research which included: the police, shopping centre mangers, social workers etc. and what we found is that the community didn’t know the young people and visa versa, in one case they were actively engaged in a youth centre and it was very successful when they ran it themselves. Many had violence in the home and drug issues with parents, so to have them involved with other members of the community changed the way they saw people, no longer strangers but friends.

When you serve you become strong, it is not a weakness, it is how you find your talents and develop esteem. This is also leading by example. You can’t stop violence with violence, you can only lead by showing or modelling respect, integrity and justice.

So this poem is for police or former police, those who are leaders setting standards the community respects. This is sent with love and hope for the future.

COMM-UNITY POLICY

Community policing,
As the bobby walks the beat,
The many people they meet,
Is the real heart-beat,
That keeps the rhythm of society,
Safe and secure,
For many appreciate the police presence,
And smile at the message
of neighbourhood watch.

Budget cuts,
Heavy workloads,
Desk bound,
On patrol,
Lost and found,
Around the town,
For one is seeking trouble,
One must look to see,
Through moments of anxiety,
If the bubble bursts.

A tour of duty,
Job rotation,
Serving civil community or
detecting criminal activity,
For one develops a mind set,
To get the job done,
For you must sift the wheat from the chaff,
The good from the rough,
The weak from the tough,
Knowing right from wrong,
And sometimes the lines may blend,
by association,
Strategic alliances,
For conscience has its own sense
Of social justice.

To be a witness to crime,
To be the first at the scene every time,
Exposes one to stark reality,
Of life and death,
The public is immuned and sanitised,
Yet the police must attend and realise,
That they visit the extremes of life,
Where it is hard to see the middle path,
As lies and deception are camouflage,
Obscuring human rights from wrong.

Know that the silent majority,
Applaud your daily courage,
For during conflict many may run away,
Yet you will come and stay,
Determining what went wrong,
For when lines are crossed,
Rules are broken,
Lives shattered,
You are there to pick up the pieces,
And this is the justice of the peace.

Remember Sherlock Homes always asked questions,
Sensed the essence of human nature,
Placed himself in another’s shoes,
Expanded the looking glass into the past,
Followed hunches,
To walk their journey,
Retrace their steps,
For investigation is to seek the truth,
Uphold just laws,
Whole-heartedly.

For it takes courage to admit one doesn’t know,
And that is ok,
Just stay below until the truth surfaces,
It is the intent behind your actions,
That sets you free,
To be the best detective,
That’s ever been,
And that is the ambition society is seeking,
That is the power that walks the straight and narrow,
For honest police are worth their weight in gold,
And we are depending on them to be bold,
To uphold justice,
And show the young people,
The value of integrity,
No matter the weather,
And this is how we win together.

Thanks for serving the community.