The Worcester Police Department Bureau of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs) will hold a LIVE question and answer forum on Facebook and Twitter at 2 p.m. today to discuss and inform the public about police practices and policies. During the forum, Captain Jeremiah O’Rourke and Lieutenant Richard Bates of the Worcester Police Bureau of Professional Standards along with Chief Gary Gemme will be available to answer questions the public might have about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with police. “This is a unique opportunity for the community to have an interactive discussion with us on social media about important and relevant issues,” says Chief Gary J. Gemme. “We feel it is important for the community to know more about the Bureau of Professional Standards and the role the unit has in helping to maintain honor and integrity within the department, along with building and sustaining a trusting working relationship between the public and the police.” The goal is to provide the community with insight into policies of pro-active policing, explain the fundamentals of the law that may govern civil liability issues associated with policing, and discuss practices and guidelines that are employed from complaint processing to decision-making, discipline, notification, and community transparency. “Effective policing requires mutual respect between the police and the community we serve. When respect exists…trust follows. This forum is an attempt to address questions and concerns and hopefully provide answers that will help build trust,” explains Chief Gemme. The public is encouraged to post their questions via WPD facebook and Twitter accounts: facebook/WorcesterPolice and @WorcesterPD. Longer answers will be posted on Facebook because Twitter limits posts to 140 characters. For more information on the Bureau of Professional Standards please visit: worcesterma.gov/police/professional-standards
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 13:07:58 +0000