Community cop patrols among the people

by Dan Holland

Patrolman Cristopher Collise of the Independence Police Department is returning to the roots of policing by interacting directly with residents in his new role as “Community Cop.”

Collise began the new position June 17 following ongoing discussions with Police Chief Robert Butler. The role came about after Collise, who has been with the department 23 years, interviewed for positions as a school resource officer and business liaison officer.

“The chief and I have been talking about this [position] for the last two years,” said Collise. “We had discussed getting a business liaison officer position, too; to be in contact with the businesses to get their information – emergency contacts, or who to contact if the power is out or if alarms are going off.”

The community cop position – initially to be seasonal through Nov. 1 – was posted in May. Collise said he may assume a business liaison position during the winter months, but that is yet to be determined.

“I’m not part of a shift now. I’m my own entity within the police department,” Collise explained. “We wanted to get back to the basic roots of police work. I can wave to residents as I drive by, but I can better engage people in a conversation when I’m out walking or on bike patrol in a neighborhood or park. I wear my uniform just like any other officer does, but I also wear my bike patrol uniform, which I’ve been doing for ten years.”

Collise will patrol wherever he thinks will be most effective in the city. The new position helps put a “face” on the department.

“I kind of see myself as going out and … representing the department, and obviously, I want to give the city a good impression of it,” said Collise. “We have a reputation because residents often don’t see us as a person; they see the badge and the uniform because whenever we show up, it’s usually because something bad has happened. So, we’re trying to break through that and find out what the residents’ concerns are.”

Resident feedback has all been positive so far, said Collise. “The chief is talking about possibly putting a second person on this assignment next year, based on resident feedback,” he said.

“I am excited to introduce our ‘Community Cop’ position, which marks a return to our policing roots,” said Butler. “This role embodies the essence of community policing, fostering strong relationships and trust within the neighborhoods we serve. The Independence Police Department is proud of the positive impact this initiative is already having on our community.”

Butler added that Collise was a great fit for the position. “He is a great communicator and cares about our residents and community,” he said. “He will be proactive in keeping our community safe and addressing the concerns of our residents.”

“I’m out there, and I’m really pushing this because I want to make it mine, and we want to keep it going,” said Collise. “I want people to see that we do care about the residents or anyone who is in our city. We have people who are bussed in from other cites that come to our parks, and I’ll go talk with them as well. We just want people to know that we’re here for them, and if there are any concerns or issues, to let us know.” ∞

Photo: Cristopher Collise is the police department’s first “community cop.” Photo by D. Holland.