Police Houses in the Neighborhood

Why do we have police stations? Because it's comfortable for policemen? Admittedly, we need community jails, courtrooms, and related support services in some centralized location, but I am talking about the policemen.

Where do we need the police? The answer is so obvious it sounds almost ridiculous: in the neighborhood.  Let the city pick out a foreclosed house, have a neighborhood painting party, and like magic the police are where they are needed.  Sure, it is more complicated and there are some security issues, but with low cost internet video cameras, police houses can monitor each other and their houses via their smart phone.  (Don't tell me they have hummers and not smart phones.)

I'm thinking a model station would have about two to three policeman a shift.  Policemen could use Periscope via twitter to talk to their community each morning and then walk among their fellow citizens.  Most work would be on foot in the community via scooter, bike or similar.  Cars would be allocated to roaming police that would move into and out of neighborhoods as requested by their brothers on the ground.

And, of course, it is all about forming relationships with the community. Walk by and tell a kid on the block happy birthday, or attend a funeral of a child shot in the neighborhood.  Act like these people dying in our slums means something to somebody.  Get the parents trust so that when their children are doing something illegal they talk to the policeman, not to get their child arrested, but for guidance on what to do.  And, yes, it would be better if most, or at least some of the policemen, were the same race as the people in the neighborhood. Yea, someday it may not matter, but for now one step at a time.

One step better would be for policemen to live in the neighborhood with their families.  No, its sad, we are not ready for that, but it would be a noble goal ... a Phase 2 of this general idea.  The goal is to have the policemen to be part of the community, to have the relationships in place that people in this neighborhood treat him as a wise and helpful person.

Now, here is the Phase 3... having the teachers of the children of the neighborhood living in the neighborhood, along with their preachers, the owners of the stores, the fast food restaurants, the banks, etc. all living together.  Yea, I know that is foolish we will never be that equal in this country.   (And yes, there are countries where the difference between the top and bottom of the social and economic ladder is much smaller than here, but we don't think that is fair.)