Our View: Relationships keep communities out of crisis

It’s never just one thing. When communities are consumed in violence and bloody confrontation, it’s not because of one incident. Not really.

In Ferguson, Mo.; Oakland; Cleveland; Brooklyn and elsewhere, the protests that erupted following tragic deaths at the hands of police didn’t spring from a singular shooting. They built, like steam in a closed pot, that needed just one more moment to blow.

We don’t think that will happen in Modesto or elsewhere in Stanislaus County. It’s not because we don’t have all the elements. Our communities have more than their share of poverty. Much of that poverty is found in neighborhoods dominated by minority populations, where violent crime often keeps police officers, deputies and residents on edge. We’ve got criminal gangs and drug abuse. And we certainly have just as many people willing to jump to conclusions and express their rage as any other city.

But we’ve several got things going for us, too.

Foremost, we’ve got a community not willing to wait for something tragic to happen before it acts. That’s the impetus for the “Pray for the Police” gathering planned for 6 p.m. Monday in front of the Modesto police station. Organizers expect about 100 people, including Police Chief Galen Carroll and Sheriff Adam Christianson, along with other public officials. They will be joined by at least 20 members of the Modesto Police Clergy Council.

This came about because of the ongoing dialogue between Carroll, Christianson and the clergy.

“We don’t want to run the risk of gathering at the police station after something has happened,” said the Rev. Darius Crosby, of the Greater Glory Community Church. “We want to be known for pro-active gatherings. ... The bottom line is that the line is open. We’ll be praying for them.”

Preachers pray, but peace officers must rely on other tactics – such as training and professionalism – when enforcing the law.

Said Chief Carroll: “This uniform is a symbol of professionalism, not a symbol of aggression.”

“California has some of the highest hiring and training standards in the nation,” said Christianson. “The singular reason those standards are as high as they are is to protect the public.”

Carroll wants a careful and measured response from his officers in any situation. “Force can create more use of force,” he warns. There are many other tools officers can use.

For instance, Carroll wondered why any department would deploy assault rifles, such as the AR-15, in a communitywide confrontation. “There’s nothing you can do with an AR-15 except look foolish.”

Carroll dismissed the notion that stress and excitement could sometimes cause officers to overreact to situations.

“You’re expected to control yourself,” he said. “Our academy is a high-stress academy. I want (instructors) yelling and screaming at (recruits). We try to train them for the adrenaline trip.”

A big portion of building trust, said Christianson and Carroll, is in being willing to admit mistakes.

“We’re all human,” said Christianson. “Those men and women who serve in this honorable profession make mistakes. It’s critically important the chief and sheriff, if something goes bad, that we get out in front of it.”

Said Carroll: “If something is wrong, just call it wrong.”

Crosby noted that as the Ferguson incident began to unfold, Carroll checked in with him by phone. Such calls are vital to building relationships.

“When we don’t know the people in charge, then when things happen chaos follows,” said Crosby. “When we do know someone – when we know the character of the individuals; when we’ve walked with them and prayed with them – well, it’s going to be hard for someone to tell me something negative about them. It’s going to be hard to believe.”

It’s never one thing that makes a community explode. And it’s never one thing that keeps them from exploding.

Trust, communication, empathy, dedication all play vital roles. They’re all part of any good relationship. Monday’s gathering is building on those relationships.

This story was originally published April 25, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Our View: Relationships keep communities out of crisis."