Community engages with police in public safety meeting

Polson city hall was packed last Wednesday with citizens ready to hear from Police Chief George Simpson about public safety. He was joined by CSKT Chief of Police Craige Couture 

For Simpson, the quarterly safety meeting provides an opportunity to share information and gather feedback from the community. The police chief kept the morning meeting light, making the occasional joke but never wavering from the goal of the meeting.

“It is not good enough for me to tell you folks that Polson is a great safe place. It’s better when you say, ‘I feel safe,’” said Simpson.

After this introduction, Simpson gave an update on everything from violent crime, mental health, and prevalent drugs – including meth and fentanyl – that officers are seeing in the community. He even took time to talk about fraud and how to stay educated on how to combat it.

“I can tell you the police department will never ask for an iTunes gift card,” said Simpson. “When you get those calls hang up. Whatever information you have, like caller id or whatever, just pass it to us.”

What seemed to be the most productive part of the morning meeting occurred when it was opened to questions. This gave audience members the chance to ask both broad and specific questions to the two law enforcers.

One audience member asked about speeding on a particular street during a specific time of day. Simpson suggested that giving officers a specific time when infractions occur – such as before school starts or during the lunch hour – would be helpful.

Such details help police “pinpoint that and work on” recurrent issues.

Another question was centered around international gang activity within the Mission Valley.

“Look, that's a real thing – it’s alive and well,” said Simpson. 

Couture stressed the importance of giving information if strange activity is detected whether out in the community or in your neighborhood. “Call it in every time," he advised. "You just don’t know how it’s going to pan out. That could be the piece (of information) we need."

Other questions included mental health, homelessness, resources and even talked a bit about some of the uphill budgeting concerns that forces are facing. 

Overall, the meeting was a respectful forum in which concerned citizens got an opportunity to both learn about safety, ask questions and air out potential grievances with both forces actively encouraging this dialogue as a way to better both the community and the way they protect it.

The next public safety meeting is tentatively planned for July 2.