Local governments around the nation are grappling with police reform. Advocates are calling for reductions in police budgets and other policy changes amid protests sparked in part by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. One proposal floated, among others by Palo Alto’s city council, is to change the role and thereby the approach of law enforcement officers by giving them responsibilities beyond policing. Sunnyvale’s Department of Public Safety includes fire, medical and police services and all first responders are trained across all three disciplines. Department Chief Phan Ngo said the different roles mean officers see themselves as caretakers, building their reputation as public servants with residents.
“If you saw an officer who is assigned to the fire side, that officer was at your house on a medical call, and then the next day you see that officer out and about working an overtime patrol car and you see that officer wearing a police uniform I think to a certain degree it provides a different perspective on what that officer is doing in the community.”
— Chief Phan Ngo
A segment from our radio show and podcast, “Civic.” Listen at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 102.5 FM in San Francisco, or online at ksfp.fm, and subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify or Stitcher.
