How to Better Interact with Police Event

Gulfport police say in order to keep the peace in our community, it’s important to know how to interact with law enforcement. An event put on at a local church is the first of many centered on better communication with police officers.
A nation still recovering from the recent fatal attacks against police officers, the interaction between our law enforcement and community may have room to grow. That’s why Gulfport resident Lynnea Lang says she wanted to create an opportunity to help strengthen the ties between the two. “I feel like we need to be educated on what we need to do when interacting with the police, we needed to know our rights as well as our responsibilities.”
Police filled the pews, sitting down with community members at an event focused on what to know when interacting with law enforcement. The event was held at the Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Gulfport.
As a political science major studying at a historical black college, Lang says she’s had a front row seat, watching how the violence against police officers is impacting our community. “From observing, I felt that something needed to be done and we need better communication.”
Officers covered a variety of common situations, narrowing in on how to keep an interaction with a cop ending in peace. Sergeant Damon McDaniel with Gulfport PD said, “We want people to be informed when they walk away from this that they understand what their rights are, what they can and can’t do.”
After all the recent violence against police officers, Gulfport police say they’ve received a lot of support from the community, making their badge worth wearing here in Gulfport. “Those tragedies have not happened in Gulfport, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen in Gulfport. Right now, the biggest thing between law enforcement and community is the dialogue between the two.”
Gulfport police say positive interaction between officers and the community is the key to continue helping those in need whether it be a perfectly good Samaritan or an ex-criminal. “It could be one minute they’re saying something bad about me or wishing death upon me and what they fail to realize they may be a victim and need my help and guess what? I’m still going to come save them,” said Sgt. McDaniel.