Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris appointed Officer Deana Lansing as the new Neighborhood Resource Officer. Officer Lansing started her new assignment this summer.

“Officer Lansing is an excellent fit for this five year assignment” Harris said. “She has a combination of integrity, enthusiasm and empathy that makes her a great asset in connecting the community and the Police Department.”

Officer Lansing started out her career as a police officer about 14 years ago in California before transferring to Federal Way. She has been an officer with the Kirkland Police Department for nearly seven years, the last four in the Investigations unit.

“I’ve aspired to this position since I started at KPD,” said Lansing. “This role serves as a liaison between the community and the Police Department, which means there are many different hats to wear. I’m excited about the opportunities to connect with residents, and so far it has been great.”

As the Neighborhood Resource Officer, Ofc. Lansing’s duties include attending neighborhood meetings, teaching children and adults about safety, conducting safety assessments of resident’s property, assisting with homeless outreach and coordinating events such as National Night Out and the Citizens Academy.

“I’m most excited about getting the community more involved with the Police Department,” said Lansing. “Proactively working to build connection and trust between the community and the Department increases our effectiveness as protectors and problem solvers. Trust and respect are the foundations of our Department’s Community Policing philosophy.”

Community Policing is an approach to policing that brings police and citizens together to prevent crime and solve neighborhood problems. In this model, the emphasis is on stopping crime before it happens, not responding to calls for service after the crime occurs.

“Community Policing means police are welcomed as part of the neighborhood,” Harris said. “By strengthening the relationship with our citizens, community members feel more comfortable calling us when something’s going on that we need to know about.”

“I’m honored that my job is tending that relationship,” Lansing said.

Visit the website for more information about the Kirkland Police Department’sCommunity Oriented Policing and Problem Solving.