Even as we shift traffic stops and 911 calls away from cops, we should have more cops just walking around. This is the way they do it in Japan, and here's some evidence that it works in America too: https://twitter.com/futurepundit/status/1333802042821787648

Beyond deterring crime, the idea is to make the cops part of the community instead of the enemy of the community.

When cops just walk around, it's possible to have lots of benign interactions with them, which increases the feeling that they're there to serve and protect.

Of course, this works both ways too. When cops spend most of their time in a community saying hi to people, giving directions, or just watching people go about their lives, it accustoms them to being a peaceful part of the community.

Changing to a model of "cops as part of the community" won't eliminate police brutality entirely, but I think it will decrease it. And it'll decrease crime, not just via deterrence, but through greater community trust.

Japan does it. We should do it too!

(end)