Thank you to Patricia Ravenhorst, General Counsel at the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA), and Rita Wearbon, Victim Advocate at the City of Greenville Police Department.
The goal of Ten at the Top’s Creating a Safer Upstate Initiative is to create a safer and more united Upstate Region where law enforcement and community leaders work together to foster a culture mutual respect. Officers attended elementary schools around the Upstate on Fist Bump Friday last week.
A Law Enforcement and Community Leader Forum was held on June 14, 2022 at the Blue Ridge Community Center in Seneca in conjunction with Tri-County Technical College
Law enforcement officers were in attendance to share information on police use of technology, general policing policies, community engagement, and police recruiting & training. As we learn time and again, education is key to creating trust. Community leaders shared their concerns about transparency in policing and the importance of cultural competency.
Beyond the Shield Workshop
Use of Analytics to Drive Policing
June 13, 2022
The Use of Analytics to Drive Policing Workshop was held via Zoom on June 13, 2022 with presenters Dr. Lee Hunt, PhD, from the Greenville City Police Department, and Dr. Michele Covington, PhD, from the USC Upstate Crime Analysis Center (UCAC).
Crime analysis assists in evidence-based policing, is efficient and resourceful, and ensures that decision-making is strategic and fair. Ultimately crime analysis holds accountable those who commit crime, provides assistance for victims, and enhances crime prevention.
UCAC provides training, resources, and support; analytical expertise for law enforcement agencies; problem analysis assistance; and public training on problem-solving strategies.
Dr. Hunt shared the Greenville Police Department’s 2021 Year-End Statistics Report to show how Greenville PD uses predictive policing with local data to analyze historical crime data, predict future crimes, and efficiently deploy law enforcement with the goal of reducing violent crime without imprisonment.
The presentations are available here and the recording of the workshop is here.
The fourth Creating a Safer Upstate – Beyond the Shield Virtual Workshop provided an opportunity for Community Leaders to share concerns with Law Enforcement Officers across the Upstate.
The panel included Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis, Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright, Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw, Town of Williamston Police Chief Tony Taylor, City of Anderson Chief Jim Stewart, and City of Greer Police Chief Matt Hamby. Jim Shew from Marsh & McLennan and Keishe Nelson from Michelin coordinated the audience questions during the session.
Sheriffs and Chiefs addressed questions about how community leaders can support law enforcement, how the national conversation on criminal justice reform impacts the implementation of law enforcement practices and procedures at the local level, how information is communicated and where to look for the most accurate news, what communities can do to help police in regards to response and communications, community engagement, mental health, and reporting.
View a video recap here.
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Creating a Safer Upstate
November 2, 2021
Watch a video of the presentation here.
Speakers
Chief Matt Hamby, City of Greer
Chief TJ Chaudoin, City of Greenwood (c:864-992-7304)
Chief Howie Thompson, City of Greenville
Community Leaders
Dr. Toney Parks, Senior Pastor at Mt. Sinai Baptist, and Chaplain to Greenville City Police
Mayor Terence Roberts, Mayor of Anderson, and Board of Directors Chair of TATT
Keishe Nelson, Credit Manager at Michelin Community Volunteer
Challenges to Hiring, Recruiting, Training
Chief Chaudoin
Recruiting
How have they been recruiting
Chief Thompson
Some of the minimum standards set by state law (an average of 6% of applications received are eligible):
Chief Hamby
Studies show that 29% of officers leave within first year of being hired nationally. An additional 40% leave the professional within 5 years. 8-20% stay to reach retirement. According to the SC Academy, in five years, 50% of the class is no longer in law enforcement after graduation.
Creativity is required in retention. Opportunities in Greer are available to:
Recruiting
Community Leader Q&A
Pastor Parks
What is the plan to encourage Latinx population?
Chief Chaudoin
Become actively involved in the community to build relationships for the future
Chief Thompson
Largest growing population in Greenville
Partnered with Hispanic Alliance job fairs
Aside-15% of the department is female
Chief Hamby
Focusing on all minorities and getting them to apply
Mayor Roberts
How can elected officials help with recruiting and retention?
Chief Chaudoin
Bring elected officials along into communities
Focusing on recruiting next generation of hires
Chief Hamby
Provide leads of interested parties
Chief Thompson
Invite us to speak even to events you might not think are related
Keishe Nelson
What training has been implemented to counter tragedies?
Chief Chaudoin
Outside agency oversight through national accreditation
Increase training budget
Specialize in communication and de-escalation
Chief Thompson
Review policies to ensure up to date
Repetitive training on simulators
Biased based training
Chief Hamby
Emotional intelligence training – entire staff
Crisis interventional training by NAMI
What has been learned from open dialogue in communities?
Chief Chaudoin
Everyone learns about each other; community understands force, office understands community concerns
Chief Thompson
New NET Team (neighborhood engagement team)
Goal – promote safety, prevent crime, enhance quality of life, neighborhood led
Chief Hamby
Every department relies of community support
With removing someone’s freedom comes heavy responsibility, so a high level of trust must be obtained by getting to know each other outside “business” dealings
Builds trust and understanding