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Survey seeks opinions on law enforcement

Want to give law enforcement a piece of your mind? Or a thumb’s up for a job well done? Maybe just make a suggestion?

That chance now is available, from the comfort of your home computer .

Starting Thursday, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, or MCOLES, began offering an online community survey through March 20 to gauge public confidence in law enforcement and gather comments from throughout the state on advancing police-community relations.

The survey comes after Gov. Rick Snyder signed an executive directive last fall to have MCOLES — the state commission that sets standards for law enforcement in Michigan — prepare a “public report addressing the topic of fostering public trust in law enforcement” by May 1.

Hence the short survey, which went live Thursday at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ExeDir2016-2.

The results hopefully will be used to develop recommendations to “strengthen public trust and confidence in law enforcement in communities across Michigan,” according to MCOLES’ announcement of the survey.

“Community engagement and community policing activities can advance the legitimacy of law enforcement across the state. Only through community partnerships can law enforcement reduce crime and disorder at the local level,” Commission Chairman Sheriff Jerry Clayton said. “The (MCOLES) report will offer practical steps that can be taken to strengthen police community relations and enhance the legitimacy of law enforcement in Michigan.”

The announcement states “the goal is to determine how residents and law enforcement can work together to make local communities safe and secure.”

The governor also directed MCOLES to “consider the status of community relationships and what factors can impact the public’s trust.”

To do this, MCOLES wants input from across the state, including the Upper Peninsula.

“All communities are not the same,” according to MCOLES, “and local residents have unique issues and concerns that need to be addressed.”

Some survey items simply ask that an answer be checked, while others request open-ended comments.

MCOLES also wants to hear success stories if relations are working well.

Along with the survey, MCOLES has established an e-mail box so the public can freely share ideas or submit documents for consideration. It is at MCOLESExecDir2016-2@michigan.gov.

MCOLES will request a zip code to ensure all areas of Michigan are surveyed, along with gender, race and age. But the survey does not ask for names or other personal information.

So there is no reason not to participate if you have something to relate about the police. Again, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ExeDir2016-2 to make sure your views on law enforcement are known.

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