Without that mentoring, combined with a strong presence that says, ‘I expect more of you,’ or ‘you can do better than this,’ failure can be eminent.” So how does an already understaffed, overworked police department take on the added responsibility of cultivating relationships between law enforcement and the community? “The first step is finding the time to not just ‘look past’ the people we see everyday,” says Hanson. “You begin to search for then start to notice the similarities we all possess.” Hanson continues, “When you come across a person who needs help or wants to change their life how can you just stand there and not offer a hand?” Such efforts may not fall under a police officer’s job description, yet Hanson believes helping to change perceptions is part of his job as a police officer. “I’ve come to find that it’s acceptable to care about the people we serve, and that in turn cultivates respect and kindness,” says Hanson. “The benefit I receive is in the knowledge that my true power as a police officer comes from helping to empower
Without that mentoring, combined with a strong presence that says, ‘I expect more of you,’ or ‘you can do better than this,’ failure can be eminent.” So how does an already understaffed, overworked police department take on the added responsibility of cultivating relationships between law enforcement and the community? “The first step is finding the time to not just ‘look past’ the people we see everyday,” says Hanson. “You begin to search for then start to notice the similarities we all possess.” Hanson continues, “When you come across a person who needs help or wants to change their life how can you just stand there and not offer a hand?” Such efforts may not fall under a police officer’s job description, yet Hanson believes helping to change perceptions is part of his job as a police officer. “I’ve come to find that it’s acceptable to care about the people we serve, and that in turn cultivates respect and kindness,” says Hanson. “The benefit I receive is in the knowledge that my true power as a police officer comes from helping to empower