Bellevue Police, youth come together to talk, understand

April 30, 2009 12:27 pm

The average encounter with a police officer for a youth typically evolves being on the receiving end of a speeding ticket or stern lecture. Last Wednesday, more than 60 community members, youth, city leaders, and Bellevue police officers gathered at Sammamish High School to take part in the ongoing program called Eastside Conversations on Race and Culture. This month’s event was focused on The Police and Youth: Building Bridges of Understanding and Collaboration.

The public discussion was presented by the city of Bellevue Parks and Community Services Cultural Diversity Program and was designed to open the communication between the police and the community. Bellevue Police Chief Linda Pillo was present along with Sammamish High School Principal Tom Duenwald and Cultural Diversity Coordinator Kevin Henry.

“When Police Chief Pillo first arrived in Bellevue she approached me and asked for ways to better connect with all communities within Bellevue,” Henry explained. “She felt it was very important to build relationships with the community she serves.”

Tables were set up around the room encouraging those in attendance to step out of their comfort zone and sit in community with a group of people from all walks of life. Each table group included one representative from the police, youth, and adults. Over the course of two hours, the high school cafeteria came alive with discussion, questions, and personal experiences from both community members and police officers.

“These open-ended conversations give the community a chance to build connections and put faces to names,” Henry said.

For the youth it was an opportunity to meet officers as individuals and fellow human beings. For the officers, it was an opportunity to learn about the young peoples’ concerns and issues.

The goal of the conversation was to break down barriers between the police, youth and people of color. The Cultural Diversity Program was created to increase understanding of different values, communication styles and patterns of behavior due to racial and cultural differences.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.