Law enforcement agencies in McDonough County are renewing their commitment to the Ten Shared Principles of Building Trust.
They did so during an event at Macomb City Hall on Thursday that included representatives from the Macomb, Bushnell, and Colchester police departments, the McDonough County Sheriff’s office, the Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety, and Illinois State Police.
The NAACP Illinois State Conference and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police agreed to the principles in March 2018. Representatives from those organizations were also present on Thursday.
Hundreds of law enforcement agencies in Illinois have adopted the document, including the Galesburg Police Department.
The principles include valuing the life of every person, rejecting discrimination, and endorsing the values inherent in community policing.
Dignity and respect
Macomb Police Chief Jeff Hamer said the principles reflect values that everyone should believe in.
“They’re all rooted in dignity and respect, and this isn’t just a poster we have on the wall. This is something we’re operationalizing. It happened. It’s something that I expect my officers to follow, and I expect the community to follow as well,” Hamer said.
He said the department shares the list with job applicants.
“It lets them know this is important to the Macomb city police department,” he said.
McDonough County’s law enforcement agencies first adopted the principles about six years ago, becoming the first county in the state in which every law agency had signed on.
Now, McDonough is the first county to have every law agency reaffirm them. Hamer feels it’s a good time to do so because of changes in leadership at many of the agencies, including the Macomb department.
Leading by example
Byron Oden Shabazz, President of the McDonough County Branch of the NAACP, feels fortunate to have the principles practiced in Macomb.
“I think we’re an example of what law enforcement in a community can look like – leading by example and being transparent,” he said.
Shabazz praised Hamer, saying the chief attends workshops and talks to people about the principles and how law enforcement can be improved.
Shabazz also emphasized the need for police officers and people in the community to know one another.
“Remember, when a police officer walks up on you, he has a family and is a human being, and he wants to leave this situation, just like you do,” he said.
“If he knows you, and we build relationships, we create a humanity with each other.”
Shabazz said the department is showing its commitment to the principles by reaffirming them.
“I really believe our police chief has a true, sincere commitment to seeing that our citizens are safe, they feel welcome, and that they’re actually being served,” he said.
He said the principles can help build relationships and encourage communication.
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