Cops, Community and Confrontation

With national concern about the relationship of police and the communities in which they work, The Social Network Show welcomes another episode of the National Crime Prevention Council Series that discusses this issue. Co-host Michelle Boykins, Senior Director of Communications introduces her guest, Sue Rahr, Executive Director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and a former Sheriff in King County, Washington.

Sue tells us how important the current national conversation about the relationship of the police and communities, is for the future. She is positive that the new police recruits will change the culture of the police departments because of the current training they are getting and the use of social media to enhance communication about crime. Much of the discussion in today's show was about a report that Sue wrote with a colleague titled, From Warriors to Guardians: Recommitting American Police Culture to Democratic Ideals. The report indicates that law enforcement has drifted off course in building close ties to community members and that the "tough on crime" and "zero tolerance" stance in police departments has had unintended consequences that are not good. Listen to the show to hear about the tough decisions that police officers have to make and what Sue thinks needs to be done to improve community policing.

Susan Rahr, Appointee for Member, President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing

Susan Rahr is Executive Director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, a position she has held since 2012.  From 2005 to 2012, she served as the first female Sheriff in King County, Washington.  Ms. Rahr spent over thirty years as a law enforcement officer, beginning as a patrol officer and undercover narcotics officer.  While serving with the King County Sheriff’s Office, she held various positions including serving as the commander of the Internal Investigations and Gang Units, commander of the Special Investigations Section, and Police Chief of Shoreline, Washington.  Ms. Rahr received a B.A. from Washington State University.