GREENSBORO, N.C. — At a forum in January, Greensboro Police Chief Brian James announced the department would be hosting several meetings with the community in the coming months.
The first of that series of meetings was held Tuesday night at Barber Park Events Center.
The topics ranged from crime to the service the police department does fo the community.
"The officers that patrol the various areas - do they live in the community or where do the officers live?" asked one woman.
Another woman shared an experience she had at her apartment.
"The apartment right below me there were CSI trucks and police officers looking in there and I'm like, 'what's going on?" she said.
Chief James says the effort to fight crime will have to start with a partnership between the community and the police department.
"I want to tell you that when we go out and find the people that are doing the crimes and we arrest those people and take them to jail, we need the community that's being affected to be behind us," said James.
The Greensboro Police Department says the meetings will bring discussion about how police and the public can work together to make communities safer.
Senior leaders with the police department will also be at the meetings to hear directly from the community.
The public will get the opportunity to meet commanding officers and have a chance to discuss public safety issues in their neighborhoods.
The community will get the chance to ask questions and voice their concerns about safety. The police department says this will help spark ideas on how police and residents can address those issues.
Here's when and where the rest of the meetings will happen:
- February 13 - Lindley Recreation Center - 2907 Springwood Dr. 27403
- February 20 - Brown Recreation Center - 302 E Vandalia St. 27406
- February 25 - Glenn McNairy Branch Library - 4860 Lake Jeanette Rd
- February 27 - Leonard Recreation Center - 6324 Ballinger Rd. 27410
- March 5 - Central Library - 219 N. Church St. 24701
- March 10 - Peeler Recreation Center - 1300 Sykes Ave. 27405
- March 12 - Griffin Recreation Center - 5301 Hilltop Rd. 27407
The police department says residents and business owners are encouraged to attend the meetings and share their thoughts.
The meetings start at 6:30 pm and are expected to end by 8 p.m.
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