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Transparency for Peace Promotes Positive Police-Community Relations

transparencyforpeace.org

Transparency for Peace is relatively new, starting about 5 months ago.

Jazzlin Allen is an organizer with the group, and says the idea is to get police and the people they interact with to understand each other on a social level.

“A lot of the police officers that police people in the inner city are not necessarily from the area, so when they’re interacting with these men and women in the community, they’re not really aware of what our social and cultural norms are."

Allen says if they can have a conversation with police about the values in their neighborhoods, the way they communicate and what their understanding of police responsibilities are, they will better understand each other.

The group hopes through social media they can share more of these proactive interactions that most people otherwise wouldn’t hear about.

"We can shape the view about what is going on. We do believe that our officers have more good contact with our citizens than bad, but if that does not become apparent to our community, a lot of the times we're going to continue to fear police officers."

Allen says the group plans to host social events inviting community members, police officers and city officials to interact.

"Sponsor outings with people in the community and invite the Rochester police department, and invite the mayor, so if we do like a Transparency for Peace bowling night out."

She says the group has been in contact with the Rochester Police Department and they are supportive of the organization.

More can be found out about Transparency for Peace on their website.