Former High Point Chief Quijas Reflects On Crime-Reduction Program That Became A National Model by Paul Garber Former High Point Police Chief Louis Quijas. Image courtesy of Louis Quijas
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Long before the national calls to “defund the police” and shift some of their responsibilities to other care professionals, the city of High Point started a program that earned national recognition for doing just that. The Violent Crimes Task Force emphasized cooperation between the police and the social organizations that served the community.
Starting in 1997, Louis Quijas spent five years as police chief in High Point, refining the program before leaving for posts in the FBI and federal Department of Homeland Security. He’s now a consultant in Nashville. Quijas spoke with WFDD’s Paul Garber about the program and what police departments today can learn from it.