As Niles Police Chief Jim Millin put it Monday evening during a question and answer session with the community, “Niles is not Ferguson (Missouri).”

The law enforcement agencies that serve and protect the greater Niles area have by and large a good relationship with residents in the communities in which they serve.

The cordial atmosphere at Monday’s Q&A was a reflection of that as most of the 40 in attendance had nothing but good things to say about their interactions with police.

One woman even thanked the Niles Police Department for treating her sons fairly, despite their tendency to get into trouble.

Another resident complained that the Niles community as a whole needs to do a better job of participating in events and take a more active role in the improvement of the community.

There were some minor quibbles about response times and the use of armored vehicles in the execution of search warrants, but by and large the complaints were minimal.

A good portion of the conversation centered around what could be done to ensure that residents and police maintain a good relationship and how to make it even better.

While several ideas were tossed about, the one everyone seemed to agree on was making sure that police and residents continue to communicate.

As one resident put it, “When we stop talking that is really truly when we have an issue.”

That is why events like Monday’s question and answer session are so important.

It keeps the dialog between police and residents going.

Law enforcement leaders get to hear questions and concerns that they might otherwise not have heard, while residents get to see a side of law enforcement they don’t usually get to see.

Berrien County Sheriff Capt. Robert Boyce told a story that illustrates exactly the type of thing police are trying to do.

He said on one random evening, a couple deputies saw kids playing baseball on an abandoned lot. The deputies stopped to play with the kids for a little while with one teaching the kids how to throw a knuckleball.

Boyce only found out about it when the mother of one of the children called to thank the deputy for being so kind.

That is exactly the type of policing that will keep the relationship between police and residents on the right track.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.