Police keep lines open
In August 2004, the Bakersfield Police Department began a comprehensive strategic planning process that, when completed, will provide the agency with a proactive road map to follow for the next five to 10 years.
This process is designed to identify key issues that we may face over the next several years, and will allow us to prepare and plan for the future of policing in our community.
The strategic plan is a forward-looking project that will give us a foundation upon which to set the direction of the Bakersfield Police Department for the next decade.
The strategic planning process is an intensive look at all facets of the Police Department and it will examine every aspect of what we do and how we do it.
In order to accomplish this task, a committee was formed to work with a professional consultant. This committee represents a cross section of the entire agency, with members from every work unit and from a wide variety of job classifications and ranks.
Each member brings a unique perspective and skill set to the table and because of this, our completed plan will be a comprehensive look at the form and function of the Bakersfield Police Department. Only by thoroughly and objectively examining how we deliver police services to the City of Bakersfield can we prepare and plan to improve how we serve our community.
The planning process involves several phases, including statistical and documentary research about our community as well as state and federal issues that may affect us in the future. Members have researched a variety of different components and facets of our community including demographic data, business establishments and educational institutions.
All of this is being done in order to obtain an image of what our community may look like over the next decade and what we, as a law enforcement agency, should do to prepare for the future.
Another critical phase of the process involves seeking community input and recommendations. Strategic plan committee members conducted approximately 10 focus group meetings with citizen groups and organizations, including senior citizens, ministers, business owners, educators and regional neighborhood groups that included Spanish-speaking members.
We also conducted individual interviews with members of our community. We asked them to candidly tell us what they thought the Bakersfield Police Department needed to improve upon over the next 10 years and what the department needed to change immediately.
We received very sincere and constructive comments regarding the community's expectations of the police department and what the department could do to improve services. We also had an opportunity to hear what the community liked about the current service provided by the Bakersfield Police Department.
These communications allow the department to strengthen and reinforce programs and philosophies within our organization and provide department employees with information and direction that will help them perform their duties more effectively.
It is essential that we maintain open lines of candid communication with the citizens we serve, so that we hear directly from them what issues they feel are important in the city, and in their respective neighborhoods.
The committee has met with department members and work groups to solicit their input regarding how the department needs to change both presently and in the future. Their input provides important context from those people who are actually doing the work.
We will be analyzing information obtained from our data and statistical systems to identify our workload and look for ways to improve our efficiency and the method, quality and quantity of the service that we provide to our community.
Maintaining lines of communication opens doors for more productive results in conducting investigations, apprehending criminals, and overall application of the law within the city.
We, as an agency, realize that we cannot effectively police the City of Bakersfield alone. We recognize the need for an active partnership with residents in all parts of the city and genuinely believe in the importance of ownership and collaboration with community groups, neighborhoods and individual citizens. These relationships are essential in providing service to our community, and are only forged through open and frank dialogue.
By seeking out and engaging community members, and obtaining their opinions and input, we are receiving invaluable information and developing an essential resource in planning for future policing in our city.
This information aids and assists the department in developing internal procedures, protocols and policy. We will continue to seek out and listen to ideas, complaints and compliments from throughout the community, and will utilize this information to improve the way we police the City of Bakersfield.
Bill Rector is Bakersfield's police chief.
