Over the past year and a half, the Golden Valley Police Department (GVPD) has worked to revitalize its partnership with Damascus Way, a local re-entry center that helps men transition from the correctional system back into the community. The collaboration fosters support and transformation, with roots in a shared vision of redefining relationships between law enforcement and individuals re-entering society from incarceration.
Before this work began, the only time GVPD personnel would interact with Damascus Way residents was when officers would pick up or report a predatory offender, explains Assistant Police Chief Alice White. Her goal is to seek ways to engage with individuals being released from prison, ensuring they feel welcomed and integrated into the community.
Tierre Webster, executive director of Damascus Way, says he saw an opportunity to “change the narrative around policing and foster authentic community policing practices.” The partnership aims to empower current and former Damascus Way residents to become esteemed members of their community, starting with ongoing, positive interactions with police officers. “If we do this right, intellect will change, and then behavior will change,” Webster adds.
“For the GVPD, this partnership offers a unique way to engage differently with individuals at their most vulnerable moments, such as during arrests,” said White. “Often, individuals who are arrested have a dual diagnoses, such as mental illness and substance abuse, so forming a relationship allows officers to know who these people are outside of their worst moments. It gives space for compassion.”
Webster and White say such relationships can go beyond traditional law enforcement roles, ultimately contributing to the successful reintegration of individuals back into society.
Looking ahead, the overarching goal is to reshape perceptions of law enforcement for formerly incarcerated individuals, explains White. By demonstrating that engaging with law enforcement is not taboo, the hope is to pave the way for these folks to be embraced as valued members of the community.