Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington on how a Youth Advisory Board builds trust through transparent communication

<p>The death of George Floyd in 2020 from the unlawful actions of a Minneapolis police officer sparked the <a href='https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/03/us/george-floyd-protests-crowd-size.html'>largest protests in U.S. history</a> – resulting in the erosion of community trust in law enforcement, particularly for youth.</p> <p>After connecting with distraught students who expressed confusion and fear at several organized protests in the summer of 2020, then Fremont Police Captain Sean Washington recognized that the youths’ voices needed to be heard. </p> <p>When he later became police chief in Fall 2021, he made it one of his priorities to listen – resulting in the establishment of the <a href='https://www.fremontpolice.gov/about-us/office-of-the-chief-of-police/youth-advisory-board'>Chief’s Youth Advisory Board</a>, enabling a direct line of transparent communication between Fremont youth and the Fremont Police Department (FPD).  </p> <p>In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, sponsored by <a href='http://www.lexipol.com/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=referral'>Lexipol</a>, host Jim Dudley speaks with Chief Sean Washington about the work of the youth advisory board. </p> ABOUT OUR SPONSOR <p>This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by <a href='http://www.lexipol.com/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=referral'>Lexipol</a>, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit <a href='https://www.lexipol.com/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=referral'>lexipol.com</a>.</p> ABOUT OUR GUEST <p>Police Chief Sean Washington joined the Fremont (California) Police Department in 1997 and worked several assignments gaining experience as a detective, field training officer, SWAT team member, arrest control instructor, driving instructor, and member of the School Resource Officer unit. Chief Washington was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2007, lieutenant in 2011, and captain in 2015 as comma