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Police-Community forum scheduled for Monday

MARQUETTE — In an effort to foster strong relationships between citizens and law enforcement officers, Northern Michigan University is hosting a Police-Community Relations forum from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in room 122 of the Jacobetti Complex.

The public forum, presented by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, is one of several being held throughout the state.

Lt. Kenneth Love of the NMU Public Safety Institute and Regional Police Academy said the forum will help MCOLES to determine ways to improve law enforcement services in each of Michigan’s unique regions.

The Upper Peninsula has very different policing needs than metropolitan areas in lower Michigan, he said, like Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids.

“The U.P. is so geographically spread out — it’s not uncommon for it to take 45 minutes for an officer to get somewhere,” Love said. “They want a good regional test to find out what our community needs are based on where we are.”

MCOLES will take the information gathered and produce a public report by May 1, following an executive order issued by Gov. Rick Snyder, according to an NMU press release.

“When completed, the report will offer a set of recommendations to advance the quality of police-community relationships, training and recruitment across the state,” the release reads. “The goal is to determine how residents and law enforcement can work together to make local communities safe and secure.”

Love said members of the press will not be permitted into the event, and there will be no officers in uniform present.

“We want the community members to feel comfortable speaking and expressing their opinions,” he said.

Attendees will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis, Love said, as seating is limited to 100.

An online survey, where residents can provide feedback on how to advance police-community relations in their area, is also available until March 20 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ExeDir2016-2.

Kelsie Thompson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is kthompson@miningjournal.net.

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