This is part of an occasional series by a Neighborhood Police Officer from the 8th Precinct in Northwest Detroit. His personal views are adapted from Facebook posts with permission.
By Baron Coleman
A reminder of cops who 'were not neighborhood-friendly'
Aug. 8
I'm patrolling the area where my house has been for 28 years. As soon as I roll down my block, I’m greeted by a group of kids.
They seem fascinated by the police car, so I flare the lights and sound the siren for the little ones.
Next thing I know, I’m eating off the grill with the neighborhood cookout dude from down the street.
If you are a cop and you don't embrace the people, you are doing a disservice. The bad folks should be charged for their crimes and the good ones should feel protected.
After viewing the movie "Detroit" and knowing the cops in that generation were not neighborhood-friendly, I’m reassured my decision to join Detroit’s department was the best choice for me. I never gave Michigan State Police and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office any consideration.
It’s always been about making a difference, and I mean that now more than ever before.
'My kindness does have limits'
July 25
I'm working and stop in one of my area’s Green Light Program gas stations.
Baron Coleman: " I make an effort to know community residents and let them know me." (Facebook photo)
I sign in and watch a man trying to buy a two-liter Faygo pop. Unfortunately, his EBT card was out of funds. He looked for money in his pockets and even started calling people to borrow cash.
So I walk over, hand him $5 and say: "Pay for your pop and give me the change."
Several folks in line see this and a young lady asks me to pay for her candy. No sweat, it was only a dollar.
A guy asks me to drop a few dollars in his tank. At that point, I just told him: "Sorry, my kindness does have limits."
The station is in my work area and I patrol it like a beat, so I make an effort to know community residents and let them know me. It cost $2 and change, and left an impression that can make someone look at officers with a different mindset and say Detroit police are all right.
In these times, you have to do something different to win the war against hatred. When I walked out, I felt good about the experience.
