Gilbert police recommend completely new unit to work on building trust with young people

Gilbert police recommend that a new job of youth engagement officer be expanded to an entire unit.

The mayor of Gilbert said his town is leading all of metro Phoenix in addressing teen violence. Mayor Scott Anderson’s comments came after hearing from a new police hire assigned to earn the trust of young people.

Officer Emily King told the Town Council that building those bonds starts in middle schools.

Gilbert Police Chief Mike Soelberg said patrol officers have joined in on the effort by showing up at elementary schools on their beats.

“So they have tried to, at least once a month, but preferably at least once a week, stopping by on either drop-off, pick-up, recess, lunch and just being visible,” Soelberg said.

Councilmember Kenny Buckland is a retired commander. He said local kids used to want his autograph, but now fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders don’t trust police.

“Shouldn’t be a surprise. The youth violence trends you mentioned shouldn’t be a surprise. All you have to do is look at adult human behavior in the last five years,” Buckland said.

The youth engagement officer position was created last year after reports exposed that unchecked teen violence by a group called the Gilbert Goons preceded the fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord.