Ambler NAACP, area police chiefs reaffirm commitment to community policing

Area police chiefs and leadership from the NAACP’s Ambler branch gathered on Friday, May 24, to reaffirm a commitment to continue fostering bonds between area residents and law enforcement.

The two factions originally came together to sign a memorandum of understanding that outlined a community outreach engagement plan back in April 2021. The agreement stipulates a series of action items including reducing biases, as well as increasing dialogues and interactions to better establish a rapport with community members, according to the memorandum of understanding.

“It’s something that we have been consistently doing since that time period,” said NAACP Ambler Branch President Shaykh Anwar Muhammad. “We have been working together to do a variety of things — there’s been events, there’s been better hiring practices, there’s been things that have been implemented to make our community safer.”

The memorandum of understanding spotlighted agencies within the geographic boundaries of the NAACP Ambler branch, which encompasses the North Penn, Upper Dublin and Wissahickon school districts. Participating agencies include police departments in Ambler, Hatfield, Lansdale, and North Wales, as well as Lower Gwynedd, Montgomery, Towamencin, Upper Dublin, Upper Gwynedd, and Whitpain townships.

“I want people to know that what we set out to do as an organization and as the police departments in our jurisdiction — that the promises we made, and the commitments that we’ve made – that we’ve continued, and it’s something that we take very seriously, and that’s something that we want to achieve together. So we still work at it all the time,” Muhammad said in a phone interview with MediaNews Group.

Participating police chiefs stressed that the continued partnership is crucial. Recalling signing the memorandum the first time, Upper Dublin Township Police Chief Francis Wheatley underscored that “it’s a living document” that requires an “ongoing commitment.”

“It shows that not just an individual township, that multiple townships, that every organization, police department within this chapter is 100 percent behind the commitment to transparency and accessibility and we work together to resolve problems,” Wheatley said.

Lansdale Police Chief Michael B. Trail agreed.

“I think just representing all the police departments are here today, and the community it’s really important to us. We realize our mission is to support the community and keep it safe and through that we need their support, and transparency is really important,” Trail said.

“Accountability is really important. When our officers go out and do the right thing, we want to reward them,” he continued. “When things go wrong, we want to figure out what went wrong, how they (should) be held accountable. Partnerships with the NAACP in this county have been great, and they’ve been very rewarding I think for the police departments and the community …”

Friday’s meeting took place ahead of the anniversary of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020. The tragedy sparked protests in cities nationwide, including in Philadelphia, as well as locally in Montgomery County where many demonstrators called for police reforms.

“I think you know post-George Floyd, I think it’s really important that from a law enforcement standpoint that these relationships can’t be after an incident, they have to be before, and so I appreciate the leadership of the Ambler chapter, and they keep us on their radar, and not just for the signing ceremony, but we get together regularly,” Wheatley said.

Community policing strategies and outreach campaigns remain crucial for improving relations. Many police chiefs also serve as members of the NAACP’s Ambler branch, which Muhammad stressed “that’s a great show of faith, and … commitment.”

“I will always think that there’s still work to be done community wise, but I do feel there have been strides made, most definitely,” Muhammad said.

Muhammad added that he’s observed “organic” interactions within the community that have been “very productive and positive.” It’s a foundation they’ve built and continue to work at each day, which is something both the police chiefs and Muhammad wanted the community to know.

“That both sides are still working and both sides are committed to working. Both sides are committed to a better community,” he said. “Like I said, more positive policing community policing, both sides are diligently working to make sure that that’s something that we get to experience here or we do experience here.”

This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between Wissahickon Now and The Ambler Gazette. To read more stories like this, visit the Ambler Gazette.