By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally says community outreach is a vital part of the police department’s role.
Connally says programs such as the Citizens Academy help build trust in a community as does the National Night Out next month.
Connally says all the national noise can be tuned out if a police department connects with its citizens.
“I believe, absolutely, that the rubber meets the road at local government when it comes to quality-of-life issues and neighborhood improvements,” Connally tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “Now, some of that’s helped by money that’s funneled down maybe through the state and the federal government, but in the end, it’s local decision making that has the greatest impact.”
Connally says the St. Joseph Police Department attempts to keep close to the community through programs such as the Citizens Academy, the Youth Academy, and Youth Camp.