Wayne Drummond has been named 41st Chief of Police for Cleveland. Here's danitaharris's May Q-and-A with then interim Cleveland Police Chief Wayne Drummond.
CLEVELAND — This month, 33 years ago, Wayne Drummond joined the Cleveland Division of Police. He was promoted in 2000 to the rank of sergeant. Two years later, he made lieutenant. In 2005, he was appointed to the rank of commander, overseeing the division's Fifth District. In 2014, he became deputy chief of field operations, leading five neighborhood districts. On Jan.
Drummond: Yes. It's one of the biggest issues I face. There are tons of issues. Don't get me wrong. Obviously, homicide's huge, because we're talking the loss of lives in very tragic ways and awful ways. But we need individuals out there in the streets protecting the streets and so forth and providing quality service to our citizens and community. But recruitment and retention is huge because in order for us to provide the service, we need the individuals out there.
Drummond: That's a really good question. I can tell you that our officers are very nervous about it because we're talking about potentially civilian oversight. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to have civilian oversight. I think the commission in itself, if implemented properly, could be good for the division of police and, obviously, the voters have spoken like you said, and we're going to move forward with the entire process.
Harris: Now, how do you attract homicide detectives? Because we know that's another area where you could use some more help. Harris: Well, you mentioned something about it just takes that little something. That requires witnesses or people. If you know something, say something. Is that true? How are we on the trust level and the trust meter here with the community and the police so that people won't feel intimidated or feel like I'm not telling them anything? Where are we on that meter right now?
Harris: Would you say, and I think this has to be a factor as well, there used to be a time in communities and neighborhoods where I'll just say, if your parents weren't home, Ms. Johnson saw you, Ms. Johnson would tell. You know, we knew our neighbors. So we knew what was happening next door or three or four doors down from us. But now we live in a time where people close their windows, shut their doors.
Harris: How has cell phone footage helped you with citizens and what they shoot before you get there? Has that aided you a lot? RELATED: Cleveland will create ordinance to stop ATVs, dirt bikes and joyriders from taking over the streets Drummond: You're right. With warm temperatures sometimes bad behavior increases, unfortunately. But we have our partnerships and again going back to partnerships, we have our partnerships with the federal agencies. We have task force officers with the FBI, ATF and other federal agencies, and the sheriff department works hand-in-hand with them. We have our violent crime reduction teams in all five districts that work with our gang impact squads.
Drummond: I do. I think it's all those things that you're talking about. You know, you say not just the officers, but it's important as well for the officers because we have, you know, 1,400 officers right now. It's important for them to see the chief as well, because we can get so busy and bogged down with meetings and the other commitments and so forth that the officers really don't see you. They really don't see you. So it's important that they see you as well.
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