New philosophy for policing

Written by production

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 19:27

Behaviour asset philosophy A number of Redcliff RCMP officers and community members attended a course recently that would introduce a new philosophy that focuses on ways to build relationships between the community, law enforcement and local youth. "The Development Assets philosophy focuses on youth, but involves the whole community. It is the whole community raising youth philosophy," said Cst. Waites, who is overseeing the introduction of the philosophy into Redcliff. The Search Institute has developed 40 Developmental Assets that can be used as building blocks for healthy development for young people and includes external and internal assets, which are divided into four categories. External assets would include things such as family support, positive family communication, caring neighbourhoods, caring school climate, and parental involvement in their child's schooling. One category included for internal assets is positive values and encompasses a caring attitude, equality and social justice, integrity, honesty, responsibility and restraint. "The more assets we have as a person, the better off we will be as members of society," said Waites. Staff Sgt. Dave Ness said the detachment, along with the town's community services, and local youth centre will be working together at developing the philosophy. "We are working together, but we want to start it slowly and build it up," said Ness. Waites added that it is not an RCMP thing or a policing initiative, but one that encompasses the whole community. While they are in the early stages of developing it, they are hoping that members of the community will come forward and be a part of it. A meeting for anybody interested in learning more about the 40 Development Assets will be held at the Redcliff Youth Centre at 1:30 on Feb. 16.