Police receive a good report

The survey contained few comments from the minority population.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- A survey says township residents are happy with the job done by their police.
The police department commissioned William R. King, a professor at Bowling Green State University, to conduct the survey, which cost $1,000.
The results will be presented to trustees Monday at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
King said 500 questionnaires were randomly sent to residents this spring. There were 165 usable responses.
The categories
The survey asked 27 questions dealing with overall police work, competency, access to the department, reliability, responsiveness, manners and fairness. Respondents were asked to rate the department on a scale of one to six in all seven categories.
King said the department has nothing to worry about in terms of its image. The department was rated on average between five and six in all seven categories.
"I think [the department's] public image is good. People really seem to like it," he said. "This is a good survey."
Still, King told police officials that the survey is not all-inclusive.
Low response rate
King said the lowest number of responses came from those between ages 20 and 24. The majority of survey participants were 65 and older -- a group that King says is more inclined to rate the police favorably.
Ninety percent of respondents were white, so not enough minorities were surveyed to draw any conclusions from their point of view, King said.
Police Chief Jeffrey Patterson said the survey shows that the department, overall, is doing a good job in the mind of the community.
He said if the department has any problems it is the misconception by some in the minority community that township police treat minorities differently from whites.
Patterson said he would like to do an additional survey so officers can learn the perceptions of those in the minority community, of those who have had contact with police officers, and the "transient population" -- those who shop in, work in and visit the township.
Those nonresidents who regularly do business in Boardman were not part of the survey. Officials have long said the daytime population of the township is doubled by those conducting business here.
Patterson said officials will have to determine how any additional surveys will be conducted.
Serving the public
He said the survey will help determine how the department can better serve the public. The results show the department does not need to make any major changes, but more information from more people would give officials an even clearer understanding of what all those living and conducting business here think about the department, he said.
"We took a snapshot, and it looks good," he continued. "The next step is to take a few more pictures and see if they look as good as this one."
jgoodwin@vindy.com