The Kent Police Department will address community crime concerns during an informational public meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St.

The focus of the meeting is to bring police leadership and community members together to address community crime concerns and introduce the resources that the Kent Police can provide to assist residents in making their neighborhoods safer and more secure.

Police Chief Ken Thomas and department administrators will attend to answer questions about department operations. Members of the department’s Neighborhood Response Team and Community Education unit will also be available to answer questions and take input regarding specific issues within the city.

A cornerstone of the Kent Police response strategy lays in Intelligence Led Policing. This practice uses real-time crime intelligence, sharing information with our partners, pro-active problem solving, and community partnerships to address the issues of crime while improving the quality of life.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to meet with our community in an informal setting and learning more about their concerns while giving them the opportunity to know us better,” Thomas said. “Our goal is to strengthen the partnership we’ve developed with our citizens by building on the foundation we’ve already established.”

In light of the positive feedback from the department’s first community meeting in August, it’s anticipated that the meetings will continue into next year while moving to various sites throughout the city.