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Chief White Wants Regular Citizens Involved In Fight Against Crime

DENVER (CBS4) - The Denver Police Department is changing the way it fights crime as the new police chief wants to get regular citizens involved.

In just a few short months after his arrival, Denver's new police chief, Robert White, is ready to make some changes. He's officially started the department's strategic realignment plan.

"I need to establish my credibility inside the department and then I need to, or then I should say, simultaneously I need to establish my credibility outside the department," White said.

In a podcast released Friday on the DPD website, White addressed the plan's new changes. It's being put into work starting now with more changes to come over time.

"If we're really going to be successful in changing the culture, it's going to have to happen at the lowest level of supervision," White said.

It starts with using the department's resources efficiently and getting the community involved in policing. Part of that plan would involve using civilians to respond to calls for service.

"We need to ask ourselves, 'Does this require a sworn police officer?' "

Calls where a citation is not needed, like some car accidents, can be done by paid civilians. It would free up officers to respond to more serious calls in efforts to prevent crime.

"Really what is most important is the ability to establish a relationship with the community and I hope the reorganization is going to put us in a better position to do that."

Answering questions in a weekly podcast, establishing relationships with residents, and having the community become more involved in helping fight crime is all just part of the plan. White is hopeful it will be a successful one.

Additional Resources

Listen to Denver Police Dept. Chief Robert White's podcast about changes coming to the Denver police force. LINK: denvergov.org/police

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