Editor's note: Below you'll find an e-mail to Kensington residents from of Officer Doug Wilson of the Kensington Police Department. Wilson wrote about the department's Citizen's Academy, an eight-week course meant to give residents an overview of the police department’s function and operational procedures, which was cancelled due to low enrollment. The academy was scheduled to begin session Sept. 11.
Hello Residents:
A very sincere thank you to the four residents who filled out applications to be in the 2nd Kensington Police Citizen’s Academy, and also a thank you to the other five residents that expressed interest.
The Chief of Police/District Manager and I have decided to cancel this 2nd class due to lack of resident/student enrollment. The success requires a larger number of resident/students, and 20-25 people are preferred (last class we only had 12 students). The lager number of attendees is to help the classes and students fully thrive in class discussion and scenarios/role playing, as well as to substantiate the time and money that is involved in this program.
I am disappointed, because, contrary to a few loud political voices in this community who like to spew their negative view of this police department on a regular basis wherever they can, I am very proud of the Kensington Police Department. I have worked at other agencies, and let me tell you, I see that this police department reaches out to this community in more ways than I see many other police departments do in their communities. The Citizen’s Academy is but one excellent example. And as a small agency with less support services, we PD staff individually work harder. I have told many friends of mine that I work harder here at Kensington PD, than I did previously. Yet, I am not upset at the residents.
I know that people are busy, don’t get all the facts, get caught up in their own personal needs/frustrations, the Citizen’s Academy is a big commitment, and many other factors come into play. Perhaps more excitement building and/or advertisement needs to take place for the Citizen’s Academy. I’ll look into it.
But, what I don’t want to hear from those few loud political voices any longer is that this department is “mediocre” and our work does not substantiate our enormous wages because we don’t do serious police work, and we could always be doing more and more and more and more, blah, blah, blah. I am so tired of that negative open ended rhetoric that is clearly destructive. And quite honestly is terrible for morale.
Those few political voices could be constructive with criticisms rather than destructive. In my opinion, they should be trying to lift this department up rather than trying to drag us down. We could all win. Then maybe, just maybe programs like the Citizen’s Academy would be positively and vocally supported and advertised by loud political voices at public meetings with support. It sure wouldn’t hurt.
I will continue to do what I do as your Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, by getting the word out about everything that I have been for the last four years, (Disaster Preparedness, National Night Out, Special Presentations, etc), as well as new messages, info and programs. And I hope with continued announcements, advertisement and word of mouth, and maybe with this e-mail plead, we will round up the number of residents needed to have the 2nd Citizen’s Academy someday.
A united community and it’s representatives would sure be nice. Who would not agree on such a productive program? At this point with scheduling, the next class would have to be in 2013. Please ask any one of the 12 residents that took the first class, and they will share a really great story with you. Ask wonderful Marian Gade who already shared her positive experience at a public council meeting. Ask your elected officials to support your police department, and all it does and tries to do for you.
So if you are, or may be interested in the Citizen’s Academy, or know someone who may be, let me know and if we can get enough people together, Chief Harman and I will take a look. For those of you who applied, I will keep your applications on file.
Heck, on that note, if you have any constructive and positive ideas to share with me on how to serve you better, I’ll take a good look at it.
Citizen Academy info at: www.kensingtoncalifornia.org
Questions for me at: dwilson@kensingtoncalifornia.org
You got to know me as a vocally sincere person and officer. Thank you for your time.
Respectfully,
Officer Doug Wilson
