BURLINGTON — Former New York City Chief of Police Philip Banks made his first trip to Vermont Friday to share insights on community policing with top officers from several agencies in Chittenden County.
Banks, who is the second African-American NYPD police chief, said Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo asked him to come speak with officers.
Del Pozo worked for Banks during his 18-year career with the NYPD and the two have spoken regularly over the last since months, Banks said. Del Pozo took the top job in Burlington last September.
“I’m honored and pleased that as a country, we’ll have an opportunity to learn from one of the nation’s foremost leaders in community policing,” del Pozo said in a statement.
Banks said he will share his philosophy that positive relationships with the public improve quality of life and reduce crime. He’s developed trainings that focus on helping officers build a network in their community.
Banks described the approach as “relationship based policing.” He said his meeting with Chittenden County law enforcement will be informally structured and allow them to have a conversation.
The meeting isn’t open to the public and will be limited to law enforcement, according to a news release from the Burlington Police Department.
