Community-Engaged Policing

Bill Resnick interviews Elliott Smith and Taji Chesimet co-chairs of the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing. They’ll be discussing replacing police as first responders to the problems of houselessness, mental health emergencies, school disorder, minor drug use, and violence prevention. Responding instead with workers trained in defusing conflict and supporting people in distress have been found to have far superior results and greatly reduce police violence, especially against people of color. 

CAHOOTS: Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (image courtesy of White Bird Clinic, Eugene)