December 19, 2018
Captain Community North County Police Cooperative Captain puts community engagement at the forefront of his mission to protect and serve
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By Charlotte Beard Though there are some segments of society that just pursue the punishment side of law enforcement, there are other segments of the society that truly take interest in the justice side of the law. Captain Clay Farmer of the North County Police Cooperative (NCPC or the Coop), who expresses a heart for criminal justice, believes in using community engagement to build trust and position himself as a liaison between the community and law enforcement. Farmer, an alumnus of Normandy Senior High School shared, “Post high school I did the college scene for a little while…I went for criminal justice. I worked for Foot Locker Cooperation for a while then I (began to feel) I was wasting my time. I always had that passion for the criminal justice side. With both of my parents being ministers, I grew up seeing them always give back and wanting to help people. I also had an issue with crime. It was kind of odd.” Farmer went on to explain that these two factors played a role in his decision to resume his pursuit to be involved in criminal justice. There was a police officer who worked secondary across the hall in the former Northwest Plaza at another store, with whom he would often have conversations. “We would always talk when I saw him at work. One night I saw him working and he (said), ‘Why don’t you come out and do a ride along with me.’ I was like, ‘Really? Get in the (police) car with you?’ (His response was), ‘Yeah, come on.’ I rode with him one shift and I was like, ‘Boom! I’m in.’ I was sold. So that’s how the Captain Farmer journey began. From there I got hired as a corrections officer with the Northwoods Police Department. When I went to the
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Submitted photo Captain Clay Farmer of the North County Police Cooperative believes in using community engagement to build trust and position himself as a liaison between the community and law enforcement.
police academy, I became a full fledge police officer. I worked there one year then I transitioned over to the Venita Park Police Department which is now the Coop.” Today NCPC has a Ride with The Captain Program for participants ages 18 and up. Farmer was promoted to captain in 2013; he has been with NCPC since 2001. NCPC currently serves the following municipalities: Wellston, Pine Lawn, Vinita Terrace, Vinita Park, Beverly Hills, and Velda Village Hills. Farmer shared that he has worn many hats in the department. His current role makes him responsible for the department’s recruitment and hiring, public relations, and community engagement, just to name a few of his hats. Farmer has sought solutions to reduce the barriers between law enforcement and the community. When he was promoted to captain in 2013, one opportunity NCPC began offering was hands-on experience of the police simulator training to members of the community. In the community members’ sessions, attendees are paired-
up like police partners and presented with real life police/possible criminal encounter scenarios. Each participant is armed with a simulator gun and introduced to a lifesize encounter projected onto a wall with whom they can actively communicate and give orders as law enforcement would. The experience gives participants an opportunity to assess their own immediate responses and reactions whether in the case of a perceived or unexpected threat. “We are required to train on it as officers,” stated Farmer. “I was thinking this would really be cool if we opened this up to the community. Give them a chance to come in here, experience what we experience, and we get to see it from their side. We get to hear why they feel the way that they do; that will start some great conversation towards a solution.” Farmer talked to Attorney Wesley Bell about his idea with whom he had established a friendship long before he decided to See ‘CAPTAIN’ page 2
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