Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish said the relationship between the department and the community is in "very good shape," but there is still work to be done.
Parrish said part of that good relationship is due to their connection with community partners, and the best way to continue improving is to continue the dialogue with those partners and the community.
"I think in the law enforcement profession as a whole, but certainly here in Gainesville, we just need to keep on with our attitude of 'we're here to work with you, not against you,'" Parrish said.
Deputies with the Gainesville Police Department believe that the little things can make big differences, like taking the time to greet kids and give them a fist bump.
"To me, community policing is building bonds. It's making a connection," Parrish said. "...It's easy to be mad at the police, but it's very difficult to be mad at somebody that you know on a first-name basis."
He said the national rhetoric can affect morale among the officers, but they try not to let it. It helps when people remind them that their work is appreciated.
