Lt. Dan Minton on RCPD’s Problem-Solving Workshop

“I can’t stress enough,” He said, “the importance of the partnership between the Richmond Police Department and the community which we serve.”

May 12, 2014; 2:37 PM • by Eric Steigleder

I recently spoke with Lt. Dan Minton of Sector 111 about the 2014 Problem-Solving Workshop planned for May 31 at Martin Luther King Middle School.

Q: What is the primary aim of the Problem-Solving Workshop?

A: The purpose of this workshop is to get citizens input into what issues need to be resolved in our neighborhoods. This is a perfect opportunity to sit down together as one and get it all out on the table, if you will. This is not a workshop where we just talk about the issues. We actually will come up with problem solving solutions and put them into place.

Q: Did this workshop idea surface because the RCPD noticed more citizens were eager to get engaged in the process or because the RCPD wanted to offer different ways for citizens to get involved? Or was it a combination?

A: The Richmond Police Department has done these workshops in the past and they have been a great way to get the community involved in the crime reduction process. This community buy in is what brings about long lasting sustainable reductions.

Q: What are some of the issues you want to see specifically addressed during this workshop?

A: The idea is for the community to tell us their concerns and what they feel needs to be fixed. It’s easy for a police department to tell a community what they see as the issues but if the community doesn’t feel the same way then the solutions are temporary. I can’t stress enough the importance of the partnership between the Richmond Police Department and the community which we serve.

Q: What are some issues that continue to trouble the residents of sector 111 and how do events like the workshop help to address these kinds of concerns?

A: The city of Richmond is no different from any other capital city. We share the same crime issues that other  municipalities struggle with. This difference is how we address them. It is easy to stay silent or ignore the issues but that doesn’t resolve them and it does nothing to strengthen our neighborhood ties. Workshops such as this put everybody at the table as equal partners with an equal amount of input and sharing an equal amount of accountability.

Q: Why are you so passionate about helping the people of the sector 111?

A: I started my career with the Richmond Police department in Church Hill at 1^st Precinct in 1998. Sector 111 is where it all began and it is the place that I consider my law enforcement home. I have worn a variety of hats in the Richmond Police Department, from being the guy that broke the door down in Drug Search Warrants to the Forensic Detective investigating some of the most heinous crimes in Richmond.

My experience has given me a deep appreciation for the importance of the work that we do. Sector 111 is made of up a diverse group of people that are all brought together by a common goal and that is to make the East End a better place to work, live, and play. My part in the solution is minor, I am just a facilitator of that neighborhood revitalization.

I would like to thank Lt. Dan for taking the time to talk with me about this important community workshop.

You can find more information about attending here. If you’re interested in taking part, you can contact Precinct Commander Roger Russell via phone at 646-3602 by this Friday.

You can find Lt. Dan on Twitter here.

Sector 111 includes Union Hill, Oakwood, Fulton, Church Hill, Church Hill North, and Chimborazo.

 

 

May 12, 2014 2:37 PM · in East End Daily 0