Here is How it Works
Community Mediation Concept's "facilitated conversation" model provides an positive alternative to the traditional ways of handling community member's complaints against a police officer. We provide a proven process which builds strong community - police relationships, significantly improves both the officer's and the community member's satisfaction with the complaint handling process and we save time and money!
Community - Police complaint mediations improve relationships between the police and their community. These mediations provide an opportunity for the parties to meet outside of the initial conflict situation and understand in a safe and honest environment the different perspective they each bring. It is an opportunity to understand, to share and talk about what happened.
The environment has changed from the last time they saw each other. Adrenalin was running strong the last time, one party was in control, the other was "being punished" for doing something wrong, or for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whatever the situation, both parties walked away knowing the situation might have gone better.
Our brochure in web format - CMC Community-Officer Complaint Mediation Brochure
Many times we hear community member say:
"The officer profiled me because my car
is . . (to fancy)(too ratty) looking." The officer took me to the ground, and
all I was doing was asking questions." I know I went 60 MPH through the school
zone, but my wife called and my kid was having seizures at home.
What do you expect?" Many times we hear officers say: "I can understand exactly why you felt
the way you did, but let me explain what our procedure is." "When I pulled you over, I was on my
motorcycle, the cars were rushing by within three feet of where
I'm standing and I wanted to get home safe that night." "We're taught to secure the scene when
something like that happens. I didn't know if you were
involved in the incident or now, so the safest thing for you and
me was to have you in cuffs for the moment." Why should an officer or community
member
mediate? For officers, mediation is an: Opportunity to explain policies and
procedures that will help the community member understand why certain
things happened as they did. In some ways a very effective
community policing tool. Opportunity to hear the community
members
perspective, to understand the impact of their actions on them
as a person; a mom, a dad, or kid. This process puts a
real face on the enforcement the officers routinely do.
Facilitated conversations personalize their interaction with
people, something they may forget. Opportunity to resolve ongoing issues
with people they have frequent interactions with. For community members, mediation is an: Opportunity to be heard, to be
understood and to explain their perspective on a difficult and
unusual experience. Opportunity to "resolve the situation"
if the community member and officer live or work in the same
neighborhood, or their kids play on the same sports league. The chance to resolve their fears and
gain closure. For the community, mediation: Rebuilds trust in the police department
and in an officers' commitment to making their community better
and safer for everyone. Provides an awareness and education of
the realities that both community members and officers deal with each
day. Builds an ongoing commitment for the
larger community to benefit from - a positive approach to
community policing and enhanced partnerships. We know Community-Police Mediation
works Since 2005 we've conducted over 250
community-police mediations. We've started and maintained
programs in Denver, Aurora Colorado Springs,
Boulder and Douglas County Sheriff Departments. Satisfactions
rates have gone from the low teens to the high 80's or low 90's
percentile for both citizen and officers. It works!