On March 17, 2021, the first “Ask KPD” broadcast on Facebook Live.
LaKenya Middlebrook, Executive Director of the Police Advisory and Review Committee (PARC), and Chief Eve Thomas sat on either side of a small table, LaKenya asking the Chief questions that had been submitted in advance by residents.
Just off screen, KPD’s Public Information Officer Scott Erland watched a long-planned experiment unfold into a reality.
“All things considered, I was really pleased with how [it] went,” Scott says. “LaKenya and I have been talking about starting up the Ask KPD feature for some time now. I think we first discussed it prior to Christmas… I'm sure there were times when she rightfully thought it was never going to actually happen! At a certain point, though, we just had to stop talking about it and do it.”
In this initial live-streamed Q-and-A session, LaKenya and Chief Thomas covered topics including: how neighbors should report gunshots and corner drug sales; what kind of training police staff and new recruits receive; how information about gang activity is disseminated among officers; ways to report violent crimes anonymously; and the importance of building trust among neighbors.
Erland says they knew it wasn’t going to be perfect, that they’d learn along the way. And that any technological or stylistic hiccups might draw criticism.
“It's always kind of scary when you put yourself out there like that and invite public scrutiny to some degree,” he says. “However, I think most people acknowledge and respect efforts that are clearly and authentically undertaken to connect with the community.”
“I was also worried about it possibly sounding scripted and unnatural, but LaKenya did a really nice job of facilitating a conversation that felt natural and organic. I was pleasantly surprised with how smoothly it went considering it was our first video.”
Such is the nature of new projects, especially during the pandemic, when the critical connections between the people we serve had been compromised by safety precautions. It’s natural to feel like an amateur when trying out new technology or processes.
“Our sincere hope is that this [video series] is a useful and informative resource for the community,” he says. “We want to provide a platform for people to ask the questions they have about their police department, no matter how difficult. I would encourage other City employees to think outside of the box and utilize all of the available avenues they have to speak directly to those we serve.”
Follow KPD on Facebook to review the first Ask KPD and watch for announcements of the second edition in April.