Port City.

Departing police chief re-invented the force Published Saturday July 26th, 2008


A8Stumble Upondel.icio.usDiggFacebookPrintEmailspeakupDuring last year's debate over the proposed police-justice complex, some members of common council took the attitude that the building would be a legacy development.

Police Chief Allen Bodechon can boast of having made a far more significant contribution - having the foresight to make community policing a priority.

Under his leadership, police made a sustained effort to address community concerns about safety. Chief Bodechon and other members of the force stood side-by-side with North End residents who were determined to take back their neighbourhoods from the drug dealers who had invaded it. Through this joint effort, the police and neighbourhood leaders such as Councillor Gary Sullivan were able to bridge a rift of distrust and despair.

When dealers paid an addict to destroy the community police office, residents helped police catch every member of the conspiracy. What rose from the ashes was a community centre, in which a designated police officer forms part of a team dedicated to meeting the community's needs.

At the end of December, Chief Bodechon will leave the force to head up Criminal Intelligence Service N.B. The officers he has assigned to community duties have become trusted members of the neighbourhoods they serve, and community policing in the North End has became a model for efforts to reduce crime across the Port City.

Chief Bodechon's successor will need to support and enhance the community policing model. It's a legacy worth preserving.