New Montgomery Police Chief Heads to Regency Park
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Earlier this week, Montgomery Police Chief Ernest Finley invited Alabama News Network to tag along as he walked through Regency Park, meeting with residents.
The next day, we went back to that neighborhood to ask residents what they think about Finley’s community policing approach.
Montgomery Police Chief Ernest Finley says he wants his men and women out on the streets, meeting those they serve. He says this community-oriented policing approach is something he’s bringing from Atlanta to Montgomery. And residents are loving it.
“He seems like he’s going to get out here with the boys and not sit behind the desk and I like that,” said resident Debra Gray.
And so do others. Betty Elsberry has has lived in Regency Park for 10 years. Her nine grand children come over every day after school. She tells us they were shocked to see about 50 officers walking through the neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.
“We came out to investigate and we found out that it’s all on a friendly basis and they’re here to help and the grandkids felt really good about that.”
Regency Park has seen its share of problems and is no stranger to crime.
“The looting, the shooting and things like that,” Elsberry tells us.
But residents say things have gotten better in recent years. Joe Williams is the Interim President of the Boys and Girls Club, which sits inside Regency Park. Each day, he picks up children from the neighborhood and brings them to the club.
“We’ve noticed in the past couple of weeks, that the policemen are out on foot. We’ve had, I guess in two weeks, about 14, 16 officers come by and we’ve talked to them out here with the children.”
Residents in the neighborhood tell me they believe the recent police outreach is sincere. Resident Jesse Brooks says he likes the direction the police department is headed in.
“We have to give the man time to implement his situation and what not and we’re thankful,” he said. “The residents of this community, we’re thankful.”
