Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski points to the work he participated in as a member of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing as a way for law enforcement agencies to move forward with better relationships in the community. Formed under President Barack Obama in the wake of a police-involved shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, the task force formed six pillars for law enforcement agencies to focus on including building trust and legitimacy, policy and oversight, technology and social media, community policing and crime reduction, officer training and education, and officer safety and wellness. As protesters across the country are calling for police departments to be defunded after the latest tragedy in Minneapolis, Joski says there are things agencies can do to start bridging the gap now.

Joski says by adopting the six pillars of 21st century policing, members of the public can also understand what and why law enforcement agencies do certain things. We will highlight the pillars over the next several weeks.