Community policing: It's budget time — which means it's citizens' opportunity to ask questions

I want to thank Robert Simon for his coherent, experience-based, balanced contribution to the discussion of responsibility for community policing ("I'm a black cop. Here's how recent events and reactions look to me," July 19). We need to remember that community policing is one of the largest operating expenditures in local city government, and August is when city staffs present proposed 2017 budgets to the elected officials in work sessions.

To quote President Dwight Eisenhower (Jan. 17, 1961): "Throughout America's adventure in free government, our basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among people and among nations. To strive for less would be unworthy of a free and religious people. ... In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

In our local governments, the police-industrial complex introduces the potential "unwarranted influence."

Next month, and throughout the Truth in Taxation hearing process, it is imperative that the public communicate to the elected officials to help guide the process of community policing. Too often the conversation has been a one-way conversation based on fear and leading to a situation where the public safety budget is increased at a rate that far exceeds that of other departments or the rate of inflation.

It is time to begin asking your city's law enforcement administration questions that may help guide the budgeting and prioritization of community policing. Below are some suggestions, but be sure to ask about your own community needs.

• Does the proposed budget include funds sufficient to equip all officers with video cameras?

• How much money is dedicated for training in de-escalation technique as a share of total training?

• Does the law enforcement administration advocate "profiling," and if so, are data being collected to ensure that the tool is used in an unbiased manner?

• What is the budget for liability insurance, and how much has been paid to settle claims?

• How much is budgeted for the purchase of "militarized" equipment?

• Are we budgeting for the use of community service officers (less costly, but usually unarmed and not permitted to make arrests)?

Be sure to show up and speak out about how you want your community to be policed. Too often these community departments run on "autopilot" and result in a disproportionately larger share of your property taxes.

And, finally, pay attention to the responses. It may influence how you vote in the November city elections.

Stanley Harpstead lives in Arden Hills and was the mayor of that city from 2007 through 2010.