Dover PD and NAACP look to change community relations

Using basketball to strengthen the bond between the community and those policing it, the Dover Police Department and the Central Delaware NAACP came together Thursday night looking to build trust and fix some of the city’s problems.

“We’ve had a couple of complaints where the residents have not been happy.”, Captain Dave Spicer tells 47 ABC.

Since 2013, tension between the Dover Police department and the community has risen.

Corporal Thomas Webster is set to stand trial in late November after he was caught on a police cruiser dash cam, allegedly kicking Lateef Dickerson during an arrest.

This past August, 21-year-old Terrance Fletcher was wounded in an officer-involved shooting after he was walking the streets with a gun.

But when it comes to any crime, police know they need help from the community, and if that relationship is fractured, it doesn’t do either party any good.

“We want to build that partnership with the community. It’s important, a lot of the crimes that we investigate today are solved by people in the community, and without their support, a lot of these crimes would go unsolved.”, Said Spicer.

LaMarr Gunn of the Central Delaware NAACP believes that both parties have plenty to gain from a positive collaboration.

He tells 47 ABC, “Something as simple as peace and basketball, many things can kind of break down the barriers that usually keep us divided.” and “I think it gives young men an opportunity to actually make it out of the neighborhood when they have strong role models as service police officers.”

As for Captain Spicer and the rest of Dover PD, what happened Thursday night needs to continue.

“If we can reach the majority of the people and provide a good service for the majority of the people here in the city, I think that relationship will only get better.”

Captain Spicer tells 47 ABC that more community outreach events such as the one earlier tonight are in the works.

He says they will most likely be a game night and a movie night.

In addition, we’re told the police department is working to secure funding and a location for a Police Athletic League building.