The Top Cop's Beat: Community Policing

From active duty in Vietnam to life as a bat cop in one of Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods, Ronnie Watson has seen his share of action.

And in July, this seasoned officer brought his wealth of experience to Cambridge, becoming the city's new police commissioner at age 51.

Having spent hours on the Chicago force chasing violent criminals, Watson now is shifting gears in his new position.

"I'm happy that crime is low enough that we can concentrate on other issues," Watson says, noting that Cambridge is the same size as the district he patrolled in Chicago.

Topping his new agenda is more effective community policing--improving communication between officers and city residents, making the department more accessible, and sending officers to various community meetings.

Already, Watson has initiated a plan to hold quarterly meetings with residents in every reach of the city.

Watson says he first became interested in community policing back in the Windy City.

At age 18, he joined the force as part of a 1963 city initiative to recruit and train young officers in the wake of a scandal that exposed corruption in Chicago's police force.

At that point, community relations was not on his mind.

"I was a beat cop and in the arrest mode," says Watson. "I'd ride around looking for people committing crimes."

But soon after being assigned to Englewood, a district with one of Chicago's worst crime rates, Watson's outlook changed.

"It wasn't until I was assigned to Englewood that I saw how much social conditions contribute to the rise of crime," he says, describing the damaged streetlights, broken-down cars and multitude of abandoned properties that dot Englewood today.

"There were about 105 pieces of abandoned property [in Englewood]," says Watson. "Many of them are located near schools, so girls would be dragged into the buildings and raped."

Even in this inner-city war zone, Watson was able to drive down the crime rate, thanks in part to the district's membership in a community policing initiative, for which he petitioned and was granted.

Homicides decreased from 99 in 1991 to 65 in 1994, a significant drop that Watson says was due to community alliances and stronger lines of communication.

Today, Watson is a long way from his Chicago roots.

But his goals have not changed.

And with the less imposing crime rate, Watson now hopes to focus on community relations more than ever before.

As only the second commissioner to be imported from outside the Cambridge community, however, Watson may be facing an uphill battle in trying to gain the confidence and support of Cantabridgians.

"Partnerships start by working within the community," he says.

He stresses that residents' concerns need to be addressed by the police department to gain trust and improve communication.

He says comments and complaints from residents will be addressed when his police force holds its quarterly meetings in each of the city's 13 neighborhoods.

"We want to give a voice to members of the community," Watson says. "That includes going out into the neighborhoods and training people in problem-solving skills."

Watson also wants to make a point of increasing the accessibility and visibility of Cambridge police officers.

"If there's a meeting, I'll take them with me because I want people to see that the officers are just as aware of the issues as I am," Watson says. "The only way to encourage a partnership [between police and the community] is to put people in the same room."

He has come a long way in his 33 years of service, but his motto remains the same.

"It's all about communication," he says. "My job isn't just about giving people tickets: my job is to inform.

But his goals have not changed.

And with the less imposing crime rate, Watson now hopes to focus on community relations more than ever before.

As only the second commissioner to be imported from outside the Cambridge community, however, Watson may be facing an uphill battle in trying to gain the confidence and support of Cantabridgians.

"Partnerships start by working within the community," he says.

He stresses that residents' concerns need to be addressed by the police department to gain trust and improve communication.

He says comments and complaints from residents will be addressed when his police force holds its quarterly meetings in each of the city's 13 neighborhoods.

"We want to give a voice to members of the community," Watson says. "That includes going out into the neighborhoods and training people in problem-solving skills."

Watson also wants to make a point of increasing the accessibility and visibility of Cambridge police officers.

"If there's a meeting, I'll take them with me because I want people to see that the officers are just as aware of the issues as I am," Watson says. "The only way to encourage a partnership [between police and the community] is to put people in the same room."

He has come a long way in his 33 years of service, but his motto remains the same.

"It's all about communication," he says. "My job isn't just about giving people tickets: my job is to inform.