As a 30-year-old homeless woman, Rebecca Bells has had her share of interactions with law enforcement. As a 15-year veteran of the Juneau Police Department, Krag Campbell has been on the opposite side of those interactions many times.<\/p>\n
Relationships between the homeless and law enforcement can often be tense, they both say. To break that tension, it helps to find common ground.<\/p>\n
For these two, they can bond over their lack of bowling skill: They\u2019re both mediocre. Over a bowling match Saturday at Taku Lanes, they both shared with the Empire a little bit about what their interactions can be like.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s just, you have to treat everyone like they\u2019re human,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cThere\u2019s always tension between police and anyone you contact, just because as a police officer, sometimes you just might not be as comfortable talking to people when you\u2019re in uniform. It can automatically create barriers.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Bells, who says most of her interactions with law enforcement are positive, humanizing is key.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not shy to interact with police officers. Whenever you start playing a role, they slip into their roles,\u201d Bells said. \u201cBut really, it\u2019s like, you know, I\u2019m a person, you\u2019re a person, we can talk about this.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s in the spirit of this common ground that Bells is organizing a \u201cStreet vs. the Beat\u201d bowling match. Set for 7 p.m. July 15 at Taku Lanes, six JPD officers will take on six bowlers from the homeless community for a charity event.<\/p>\n
Bells is organizing a silent auction and a fundraising component, where spectators can support one team over the other with their donations.<\/p>\n
A recent transplant from San Fransisco, Bells explained the inspiration behind the event. She said she came up with the idea after intervening in an altercation between a friend and the police at the bay area\u2019s Golden Gate Park.<\/p>\n
Plain-clothed police, who were interrogating a friend of hers, were wearing what looked to Bells like bowling shirts, so she asked them if they bowled. The random nature of the question caught the officers off guard and added a bit of levity to the situation, helping to defuse some of the tension.<\/p>\n
She now does this every time she interacts with police officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt completely breaks the tension, humanizes both sides and leads to a nice conversation,\u201d Bells said.<\/p>\n
She decided to take the idea further, thinking that if she could get homeless people and police officers in the same room for a bit of friendly competition, they might be able to build bonds which would help them avoid future conflict and work together to keep the streets safe.<\/p>\n
After coming to Juneau a month ago, she got started immediately in making the Street vs. the Beat match happen. She\u2019s been impressed so far with how JPD has taken to the idea and the respect with which she\u2019s been treated by law enforcement here.<\/p>\n
Campbell said it\u2019s been tough dealing with the increase in homeless people downtown. JPD has worked hard over the years to develop a good relationship with the homeless, which has helped them do what they can, he said.<\/p>\n
But sometimes people expect too much from police, who can\u2019t resolve the issue singlehandedly. They can\u2019t guarantee everyone gets the help they need to get off the street.<\/p>\n
Campbell said having a public presence is an important part of keeping the peace. Events like the Street vs. the Beat bowling match help to remind the community that police officers are just like everyone else.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police department is a part of the community. When I\u2019m not working, I am right where everyone else is, so it\u2019s good to have those positive relationships,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cOne, to help things move forward and improve on things. It never helps to have hostility between different groups.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s humanizing both sides of it,\u201d Bells added. \u201cPolice officers are people who have hard jobs who do a lot of things that other people don\u2019t want to do. Then they get kind of made into these terrible people because you get a parking ticket or this or that happens. \u2026 I am around people who are so angry around the cops, but it\u2019s like, you know what, the cops have helped me many times. Sometimes my interactions aren\u2019t always positive, but they are just people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bells and five friends from the homeless community have been practicing at Taku Lanes once a week for the event. If the score of Saturday\u2019s round was any indication, Bells\u2019 team is going to have their work cutout for them.<\/p>\n
Campbell won the game 116 to Bells\u2019 70. The Empire finished with a 97.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Contact reporter Kevin Gullufsen at 523-2228 or kevin.gullufsen@juneauempire.com<\/b><\/p>\n
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