People and the Police: KCPD officers work with social workers while on patrol
Partnership provides social services to residents before they're in crisis
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Updated: 7:17 PM CST Feb 16, 2021
Partnership provides social services to residents before they're in crisis
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Updated: 7:17 PM CST Feb 16, 2021
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>> SHE WORKS ALONGSIDE US. NOT FOR US. LARA: OFFICER ALEX SARAGUSA BEGINS EVERY SHIFT WITH PARTNER DEREK HASKELL AND SOCIAL WORKER LINDSAY MORA A FIRST OF ITS KIND PARTNERSHIP PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES TO RESIDENTS BEFORE THEY’RE IN CRISIS. >> WE’RE ABLE TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WORK WITH CLOSELY. AND THEN THEY START TO HAVE A BETTER BOND WITH US AND A BETTER RELATIONSHIP. >> DO YOU NEED MORE BLANKETS? OK. IT’S ALSO EMOTIONAL FOR US TO SEE THE OFFICERS WE GET TO WORK WITH. I ALWAYS SAY THE VIEW FROM THE BACKSEAT IS VERY DIFFERENT. >> IT REALLY HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO GET TO SOME FAMILIES, GET TO SOME HOMES, TO SOME NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE THINGS START TO GO SOUTH. LARA: BONDS ARE BUILT, OFTEN BY CHANCE, WHILE ON PATRO >> I BROUGHT SOME FRIENDS WITH ME TODAY. IS THAT OK? WE JUST HAD THIS KID THAT WAS OUT AND HE CAME UP TO OUR CAR AND STARTED TALKING TO US AND WE STARTED TALKING TO HIM. LARA: THAT KID WAS 9-YEAR-OLD MILO AND HIS LITTLE BROTHER MADDOX. MILO’S BIKE HAD BEEN STOLEN. OFFICER ALEX GOT LINDSAY INVOLVED. >> WE FOUND A BIKE FOR HIM AND WHEN WE DELIVERED IT, WE STARTED TALKING TO HIM. HE WENT UP TO THE DOOR AND SAID, MOM THE POLICE ARE HERE AND THEY , WANT TO YOU. AND SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHY WE WERE THERE. >> WHY ARE YOU HERE? I DIDN’T DO NOTHING. OR IS THIS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH THING? THEY’RE LIKE, NO, WE JUST LIKE YOUR SON. AND I WAS LIKE, HUH? I DIDN’T GET IT, I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND I LARA: IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED, THE OFFICERS HAVE DEVELOPED A FRIENDSHIP WITH THIS FAMILY. NOW THIS MOM AND HER TWO LITTLE BOYS HAVE A POSITIVE >> AND THEY’VE COME BACK LIKE 20 TIMES SINCE THEN. THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK, AND IT’S GREAT, MY KIDS LOVE THEM. THEY’RE ALWAYS EXCITED WHEN THEY GET HERE.