First, we need more police on the street. It may sound odd for the public defender to advocate for more officers, but we need a more proactive police force that prevents crime, rather than a reactive police force that merely responds to it. Having more police in our communities who are trained to relate and thoughtfully interact with youth when there is no trouble will ease the tension that often arises when police appear only to make an arrest. New York has 600 officers per 100,000 residents, while Chicago has only 400 officers per 100,000. With more officers, there will be more time to build bonds with the communities they serve. Trust and cooperation will be re-established.