21st Century Policing

OP-ED: Who Gets to Reform the Police?

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“Owning your own narrative” is a common expression used in business, in politics, and in private life where personal reputation is at stake. Owning your narrative means ensuring that what is told about you matches the way you’d like it to be told, without distortions, mischaracterization, half-truths, or false perceptions. If you are waging a battle in the arena of public opinion, and others succeed in owning your narrative, you have lost the battle. If you are paying even the slightest attention to town politics, you are aware that there is a police crisis in Watertown, centered around alleged racist behavior regarding stops, citations, and arrests. In my opinion — and I believe in the opinion of the vast majority of residents — this is an invented crisis.

Police/Fire

Watertown Chief Hears from Obama During 21st Century Policing Conference

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The Watertown Police Department is pleased to announce that Police Chief Michael Lawn attended a 21st Century Policing Briefing in Washington, D.C., where President Barack Obama made a guest appearance, to talk about the future of policing. The White House hosted the fourth in a series of meetings since June for law enforcement officials focused on implementing the recommendations set forth by the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing on July 18. “My hope is that it’s been useful in giving you some tools and best practices to give you a sense of how departments on the cutting-edge are using data to train officers and engage with the community,” President Obama said at the event. “We also are hopefully hearing from you about what you’ve learned in your experience works and doesn’t work, and where the federal government can partner with your departments and state and local law enforcement officers across the country to do even better.” More than 150 law enforcement officials were in attendance at the event last week.