The headlines had similar words – with dramatically different meanings.
“Princeton police search for suspect in robbery from car wash,”
“Princeton police offer free car washes.”
The first headline from a Princeton, West Virginia, local newspaper, reflected what most of us consider normal policing activity. The second headline from a Princeton, New Jersey, local newspaper reflected what Princeton Police Chief Nick Sutter would like the public to see as “normal” police activity.
Much to my great disappointment, I was unable to participate in the recent carwash at the Princeton, New Jersey, Department of Public Works’ parking lot next to the firehouse on Harrison Street.
The event featured Sgt. Merv Arana and his squad, as they slapped sponges and towels rather than tickets on cars, plus a special appearance from Ptl. Judd Petrone who danced to the song “Car Wash.” And best of all, the police action on the cars cost the drivers absolutely nothing –other than a few minutes of chatting with members of the Princeton Police Department.
Free car washes, ice cream, pizza, and animal adoption services rarely figure into the 24/7 dramatic blood-and-guts action seen on television police series, such as the Hawaii-based Magnum PI. Chief Sutter, however, is based in Princeton, where he skillfully leads high-drama police action when necessary, but prefers the low-drama, high-satisfaction action of community policing focused on upbeat interactions with the public in non-emergency situations.
The many community outreach activities reflect the department’s commitment to building a positive relationship with the community to solve neighborhood problems and to operate an open, accessible, accountable agency.
In addition to holding the car washes, the members of the police force in the past year have presented dog-adoption events in Palmer Square in partnership with SAVE, given away coupons for ice cream and/or pizza to young bike/scooter riders who wear their helmets, and encouraged resident participation in the Ride-Along program that allows individuals to accompany/shadow officers to observe law enforcement activities.
Chief Sutter, who in 2020 will be celebrating his 25thyear in the Princeton Police Department, has led the department’s community policing initiative since 2013.
“The effort is totally worth it – even if it means changing perceptions just one interaction at a time,” said Chief Sutterwho oversees a department of 54 members. “The biggest challenge is to continue to gain community trust in the face of national narrative on policing. We are developing Princeton’s own story of policing.”
An important part of the Princeton Police Department story is the role played by the school crossing guards, the 26 dedicated individuals who are far more than street-crossing helpers. They also serve as the police department’s ambassadors to the community.
“Even though a crossing guard is paid a modest hourly salary, I consider these individuals dedicated community-service providers. The responsible way in which they do their job – no matter what the weather conditions and the fact they may be a child’s first interaction with an “officer” – make them crucially important in the community- policing initiative goals. The crossing guards provide another positive point of connection with residents,” said Chief Sutter.
Members of the department, said Chief Sutter, are about to launch a new program on Tuesdays at McCaffrey’s Supermarket in the Princeton Shopping Center. Officers will be available to help senior citizens get their groceries to their cars – and help all patrons return their carts to the store so my car suffers no further damage from run away shopping carts.
During these interactions with various members of the community, said the chief, the officers get all sorts of questions, but rarely field any questions about policing in the BC era – Before Consolidation. The only BC remnants are three police cars with old insignias/printing.
A recent and much renowned (reported on local and national media) act of community policing involved an insignia brouhaha on a police car that was being repainted.
“One of our cars got hit, and we had to replace the front door panel. The new door was put into place, but the insignia and the letters POL were not yet painted on the door. The only letters that remained on the car were ICE,” said the chief.
The department over a period of three days got about 15 phone calls from people wanting to know why an ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement – the much maligned federal agency) was in Princeton and whether the Princeton police were collaborating with ICE. The panic subsided when the police explained that ICE on the car simply was half of the word POLICE.
ICE is also part of NICE- and that is where the department is going with its community policing effort – delicious icing on the layers of Princeton police operations.