GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Green Bay Police officials are encouraged by the results of a recent community survey.
Chief Andrew Smith says “87% of the citizens felt ‘safe’ or ‘very safe’ in their own neighborhood. Across the country, just about every chief would be happy to have that as a number for their community.”
Smith also feels their relations with the public are paying off.
“75% of the respondents said that they have either a ‘positive’ or a ‘very positive’ attitude toward the police department and how we’re policing the community.”
Smith notes those two categories were the chief answers the department was looking to obtain during the survey, which was made available for a two-week stretch last month.
He says the majority of the 701 respondents were white residents.
“We got very little feedback from our African-American community here in Green Bay. It tells me we need to do a better job of reaching out to that community and making sure that we’re engaging with them fully.”
Smith hopes to add to the department’s current efforts to bolster relations with African-Americans, which include having a presence at the Divine Temple Church of God in Christ and organizing ‘Bring-Your-Own-Five’ basketball events.
He hopes to also address the matter through some of the expected 20 new officers that will be brought in by January 1.
“We’re really trying to recruit qualified members of minority communities and women.”
Smith notes more females responded to the survey than males, with residents between the ages of 55-64 having the heaviest participation.
The chief says the results have been shared with the department’s roster and notes a follow-up survey will likely be sent out within the next two years to see if any improvements that are made prove to be effective.
