Citizen & Police Mediation Programs

 

 

Here is How it Works

Community Mediation Concept's "facilitated conversation" model provides an positive alternative to the traditional ways of handling citizen complaints against a police officer.  We provide a proven process which builds strong community - police relationships, significantly improves both the officer's and the citizen's satisfaction with the complaint handling process and we save time and money!

Citizen - Police 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.

Many times we hear citizens 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 citizen mediate?

For officers, mediation is an:

  • Opportunity to explain policies and procedures that will help the citizen understand why certain things happened as they did.  In some ways a very effective community policing tool.

  • Opportunity to hear the citizen's 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 citizens, 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 citizen 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 citizens 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 Citizen-Police Mediation works

  • Since 2005 we've conducted over 200 citizen-police mediations.  We've started and maintained programs in Denver, Westminster and Aurora.  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!