Mississippi police release video: 'We need you, you need us'

Therese Apel | Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Show Caption Hide Caption Mississippi police reach out to community through video In 2015, in the wake of unrest in Ferguson, MO and on the heels of the death of two Hattiesburg police officers, the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police decided to bring their message straight to their state: We're you. We're Mississippi too.

"We're you. We're Mississippi, too. We care about everyone in our communities like you do."

That was, in essence, the message the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police wanted to pass along when they brainstormed the idea for an outreach video that would show police doing their everyday jobs, not only as protectors and regulators, but as neighbors and friends.

At the time of the discussion, trust between police and their communities around the country was at one of the worst points anyone could remember. It was 2015, and America was reeling from the unrest that was ignited by the 2014 death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

"We want the community to know that we are all in this together. It’s not police versus citizens, it’s citizens and police working together collectively to keep our community safe," said Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong. "We’re only as good as the people we serve, and without them we can’t be as good as we need to be."

Two years later, the video was released. It spans the state. The production company, Carbon Brothers of Oxford, traveled from Biloxi to Oxford, from Vicksburg to Tupelo and all the areas between.

"We should come together and be one state and one community, and just love one another," Oxford Police Chief Joey East says in the video.

Related: Mississippi chiefs: 'We will be there when you need us'

It's not just current events driving the public perception, officials said, it's also just the basic job description. People think the police are emotionless and only around when bad things happen.

"A lot of times I think we put ourselves in a position where we’re perceived as robots or machines or something other than just normal people, but we want to show everyone we’re just like they are. We don’t want to be seen as these authoritarian figures that are going to take everyone to jail," East said. "I’d much rather meet you on my terms, like when I see you at the grocery store, or when I’m fixing your flat tire."

In May 2015, just months before the convention where the idea for the video was born, Hattiesburg police officers Benjamin Deen and Liquori Tate were shot in the line of duty. Court testimony brought out that, before what amounted to an ambush attack, the alleged shooter Marvin Banks told his girlfriend he intended to kill them.

"I think during that time the people were angry or upset at law enforcement, and some innocent officers lost their lives. That could have happened anywhere with those types of people that were upset during that time, it didn’t have to be Hattiesburg, or Dallas, it could have been right here in Hazlehurst," said Hazlehurst Police Chief Byron Swilley.

"It was just a lot going on during that time trying to draw the line between law enforcement and the communities, and there shouldn’t be a line, there’s not a line. We all live here together, we live in the neighborhoods, we are citizens. We all have to work together to have our community be how we want it to be."

Five Mississippi officers died in the line of duty in 2015.

The most important message in the video is that of unity, said MACP President Ken Winter. It's about building lines of communication between police and communities.

"Are we expecting the criminal element of Mississippi to see this video and to never commit another crime, because they're thinking, 'Oh, they're the good guys,'" Winter said. "No. But we’re hoping it will touch a nerve to the general public. This is our way of reaching out to people and saying, 'We’re one of y’all and we want your help and your input. We need it, we have to have it in order to keep our communities safe."

East said he believes it's the responsibility of police in today's world to reassure residents they are safe.

"I tell our guys just like the church runs after the congregation, it’s our job to embrace the community to prove we’re part of them," he said. "We did this to say this is how we feel, because 98 percent of law enforcement officers feel that way."

The other message the chiefs hope the public will take from the video is, "You're the police, too." Swilley said he feels fortunate because Hazlehurst and the surrounding area already seem to embrace the idea of community policing.

"Each community is different in the state. In my community and in Copiah County, the people are coming to the law enforcement leaders to see what they can do to assist us. That’s the reason I mentioned that the communities can be different. Our community is on board with assisting us with whatever comes our way, and we’re thankful," he said.

"We need you, you need us, so let’s come to an agreement that we can work together for any issues we have," said Armstrong.

Contact Therese Apel at 601-961-7236 or tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.