Jan. 11, 2022
CWU Will Be First to Host Seattle Police Department Discussion, 'Reimagining Policing'
A community town hall with five Seattle police officers called "Reimagining Policing" will be held Thursday, January 13, from 4-6 p.m. at Central Washington University. In recent years, high-profile incidents have led to public mistrust of law enforcement officials, which has encouraged a new level of community outreach.
“I am aware of no law and justice organization, not a single one, that is not actively seeking out fresh perspectives on how to conduct business,” said Christine Henderson, CWU Law and Justice lecturer. “Students look at recent events and see an opportunity to make a positive difference in whatever field they plan to pursue.”
An open discussion will follow the presentation as part of the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) ongoing commitment to working with educational institutions to build community trust and address real-life police problems based on student perspectives. CWU is the first university to partner with the SPD in this way and is a valuable source of insight into the kinds of questions and concerns that the Law and Justice professionals of the future will have regarding law enforcement.
Henderson believes this opportunity will be invaluable, not only to the police department but also to CWU students. She pointed out that open dialogue and a willingness to learn are the best ways to restore mutual trust.
“In order to better understand how our community views policing, law enforcement wants to hear from our students, faculty, and administration,” Henderson said. “This event is motivated by sharing those ideas with law enforcement."
Among the SPD’s panel of five will be Detective Kim Bogucki, a 33-year veteran of the department and co-founder of The IF Project, a collaborative effort between law enforcement, currently and previously incarcerated adults, and community leaders to reduce misperceptions, build commonalities, and serve as a deterrent to recidivism and future incarceration.
Interested students, faculty, and staff can attend the event online, or at one of these screening locations: CWU-Des Moines, Building 29, Room 104 & 105; CWU-Pierce, Olympic Building Room 302; CWU-Sammamish, Room 205; CWU-Yakima, Deccio 107; and CWU’s, Black Hall Room 113 on the Ellensburg campus.
The event is sponsored by the Law and Justice Club at CWU.
Media contact: Rune Torgersen, Department of Public Affairs, rune.torgersen@cwu.edu.