Bakersfield Police Enlist Tech Tool to Assess Trust

The Bakersfield Police Department has announced the launch of a new public survey tool intended to better understand local concerns, attitudes and trust in local police officers on Wednesday.

According to BPD, the survey is designed to assist the department in understanding public safety issues in local neighborhoods and enhance their responsiveness to community priorities in a more holistic manner.

The surveys will appear for residents on their mobile devices through digital ads in various locations such as news websites, social media platforms and other avenues. Residents can submit their responses in English, Spanish and Punjabi, BPD said.

BPD said the survey will measure satisfaction regarding people’s feelings of safety and trust in police. It will also work to identify key concerns residents want the city to address.

“We are committed to fostering collaboration and increasing opportunities for engagement,” Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry said in a statement. “This will help ensure we remain responsive to the needs and concerns of our community as we work together to build safe and healthy neighborhoods.”

According to a report published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services under the U.S. Department of Justice in 1999, surveys directed at the community by law enforcement agencies are able to provide information that the “traditional measures” of police work — including officer workload, arrest activity, reported offenses and calls for service — typically cannot.

“Besides, since community police officers are trying to be responsive to community concerns, any complete measure of success would have to include asking the members of the community themselves,” the report said.

In a statement to The Californian, BPD spokesperson Sgt. Eric Celedon said the department has agreed on an annual contract of $70,000 with Zencity, a global technology company with which BPD created the survey. While BPD had used other Zencity services throughout the city in the past, this is BPD’s first independent agreement with Zencity and the first time using the company’s surveying service.

Zencity has worked with municipalities across the country, including San Diego, Phoenix, Chicago and Seattle.

Celedon said the department will use the survey results to become “a more intentional and data-driven agency.”

“The information collected will be used to assist in deciding how to allocate department resources to meet the needs of our community,” Celedon said.

It is unknown when or how BPD will release the survey results, and Celedon said these are still being discussed. However, Celedon said BPD will prioritize transparency.

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