Norfolk Police and community leaders hold neighborhood walk
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk Police and community leaders held a walk and talk in the Ballentine neighborhood Thursday evening, looking to tackle the safety needs of the community.
Ballentine Civic League President Sikaiadah Newton told 10 On Your Side what it was all about.
“ We’re going to walk with the Norfolk Police Department and our community members of Ballentine,” Newton said, “and maybe some others may join us today and talk with them about the needs of our community again, safety, what it looks like for our community, what it looks like for our people.”
These kind of walks usually happen after a crime takes place in a neighborhood, but Police Chief Mark Talbot said that wasn’t the case here.
“So ideally, we want to be out here when nothing bad is happening,” Talbot said. “When somebody is shot or you have some sort of dramatic violent event, it’s much harder to get people to have conversations with us, and for some very good reasons.”
10 On Your Side followed along as officers introduced themselves to residents and talked with them one-on-one.
Talbot explained what happens next after hearing neighbors’ concerns.
“The minute that you asked somebody what they want, there is a commitment and an expectation that’s created,” Talbot said, “so asking what people want what they need is just a starting point, then it’s on us. We have to be able to deliver on our promises, and we will.”
Newton said the event showed an effort of forming a working relationship between the community and the police department.
“As the police department has said, when I go to our quarterly meetings, basically it says help us help you,” Newton said, “so us helping them, they’re helping us in return, and then again, we’re just coming together to be as one.”
She said after the night’s success, she hopes for more community walks in the Ballentine neighborhood.
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