The Scarborough Police Department has built up a fan club. They have a Facebook following of 24,000+, receive regular visits from kids, kind gifts, and generous donations. Even the K9 units get some love! Supporters see that being a police officer means more than writing tickets. The officers are critical members of the community and ensure the safety of those who live, work, and recreate in Scarborough.

A key way they integrate with neighbors is through their emphasis on Community Policing.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Policing is “a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.” It picked up throughout the country largely in the Clinton administration, when grants were awarded for police departments to implement the strategy. Community policing consists of three components: partnerships in the community, organizational transformation, and problem solving.

The organizational transformation came about in 2019 for Scarborough. For years, Community Resource Officer Eric Greenleaf represented the police department in the community, and resource officers were in the schools as well. However, it was three years ago that a targeted community policing strategy and organizational structure was prioritized to amplify these efforts and do more outreach. The department knew there was more opportunity for building community partnerships and building stronger connections with residents.

Today, community policing is led by Scarborough Community Resource Sergeant Steve Thibodeau. The team consists of himself, Officer Greenleaf, High School Resource Officer Frank Plourd, and Middle School Resource Officer Rob Pellerin. Their role is to be “the positive side of law enforcement” — to get closer to neighbors so that police officers become more visible in the community. “It really comes down to building trust,” Sergeant Thibodeau said. “We want residents to feel safe and connected to local law enforcement.” Having community policing organized into the structure of the department helps support this trust, build community partnerships, and implement proactive problem solving.

Part of the role of community policing is to be the first point of contact to learn about any issues in town or between neighbors. Patrol officers often don’t have time to stay beyond taking a report, and the role of a resource officer is to build a more personal interaction. Sergeant Thibodeau and others meet with neighborhood associations, check on the homeless population in town, and can connect circumstantial issues to the appropriate services for follow up. This method of problem solving allows for more time to learn about the situation and evaluate an effective response.

Sergeant Thibodeau’s favorite part of his role is the opportunity to build community partnerships. The community resource officers serve as a liaison between the police department and Scarborough Community Services, which offers a number of resources to the community through social and recreational programs. His team handed out senior meals for curbside pickup during the height of the pandemic and hosts a monthly Coffee with a Cop discussion with the public at the Community Services Hub. They also interact with senior residents on many holidays when they pay visits to nursing and veterans homes.

Scarborough schools are largely where officers connect with the younger generation. Officer Greenleaf has done the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program for 20 years. He spends a couple of days each week rotating through the primary schools and also often stops by the municipal skate ponds on Friday evenings in the winter months. “It’s been such a positive experience having officers present in the school, and it’s mutual. The kids love getting to know our officers and we enjoy being in the schools with them too,” Sergeant Thibodeau said.

When there is a community event happening in Scarborough, the police department is often there to meet with citizens. They partner with Project GRACE for their community Thanksgiving dinner, getting Christmas gifts for families, and helping with the annual Fuel Rally. They also take part in the Veteran’s Day parade, Real Men Wear Pink campaign, and Relay for Life American Cancer Society in June. Being involved and embedded in the community is a key way for them to increase trust in police.

Sergeant Thibodeau sees the role of community policing in Scarborough only continuing to grow. The outcry of public support has been encouraging and brings in donations that increase their ability to spread positivity in the community. Public outreach over the past couple of years has been pivotal to this momentum, and the community resource officers love sharing what they do on the police department Facebook page for all to see. They hope to carry this presence into more of the community and neighborhoods. You may begin seeing officers use “cruise mode” while driving outside of the main roads. This non-flashing low blue light shows that police officers are there to instill safety in the community. The Scarborough Police Department is here to serve and protect you — and leave a positive mark on the community while they do.