WELLFLEET – A group of Wellfleet residents have petitioned the Board of Selectmen to adopt the concept of community policing.
The goal of community policing is to develop strong relationships between the police and residents.
Wellfleet Board of Selectman Chairman Paul Pilcher says 60 residents have signed the petition and the issue was discussed at last night’s selectmen’s meeting.
“The group that has brought the petition forward is asking that this be adopted more formally,” Pilcher said.
Pilcher said selectmen are not against the idea of community policing.
“Being against community policing is kind of like being against motherhood and apple pie,” Pilcher said. “So the devil is in the details and what it is that the police would like to do and what it is the community is prepared to do.”
The issue stems from an arrest last year which caused an officer to resign, according to Pilcher.
Pilcher says police have reached out to the community with events like “coffee with a cop,” softball games and a citizens police academy.
