Police Programs
"You have to reach out to the younger generation."
By DeSean Walker
I'm a police cadet in Richmond and the first thing we learn is how to have good
communication with the public and build a relationship with the community. Oakland
really doesn't have that. So you have a bad reputation that isn't getting any
better. That's why I think 100 officers won't change the crime situation.
Oakland needs to take a hint from Richmond. My city used to have
a really bad reputation. This doesn't mean that life in Richmond is perfect
when it comes to police; it's not. But I think it's getting better. Richmond
started spending more money on cadet programs and PAL, a sports program sponsored
by the Richmond Police Department.
If officers have a bad experience with the older community, you
have to reach out to the younger generation. And over time as they get older,
the stigma will change. There are plenty of things police can start up ... basketball
programs, art programs, not to mention putting neighborhood officers in the
street, walking around, talking to people. You have officers that go out and
patrol their beat on foot in Richmond. It's not enough just being in a cop car
just rolling around and being that authority figure. We get out, show we're
normal people.
— DeSean Walker is a 16-year-old student at El Cerrito High School.
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