City of Santa Monica & the Path Toward Civility | Chief of Police, Ramon Batista

Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

Evan Meyer welcomes Chief of Police Ramon Batista to this edition of Meyerside Chats. Interested in any of the civic topics below? Please tune in to Meyerside Chats on the Santa Monica Daily Press.

Ramon Batista is the current Chief of Police for the City of Santa Monica. "Putting values into action" is one of his fundamental approaches to law enforcement leadership. The strategy for doing so was successfully administered during his time as the Chief of Police in Mesa, AZ, and documented in his thoughtful and informative book, "Do No Harm."

Meyerside Chats seeks to eliminate the "us and them" narrative and toxic polarization by praising those who lead by example, virtuous community leadership, and authentic conversation. The intent is to showcase the humanity in those that take on the often thankless jobs of public service through civil discourse and honoring differing points of view.

Recorded by santamonicamusic.com

Summary

– Background on the journey of Ramon’s path toward becoming police Chief.

– Importance of connecting with our youth | 2:30

– Impact of President Obama’s Strategies on 21st Century Policing

– Origins of his book, “Do No Harm,” & how it is implemented in Mesa, AZ

– Importance of small interactions with officers. Just say “hi!” | 8:30

– How to approach officers when you get pulled over | 12:45

– The truth about ticket quotas | 16:00

– A holistic approach to officer wellness/stress management | 17:00

– Managing resistance in an organizational culture shift | 27:00

– Community trust-building with law enforcement is critical & ongoing | 31:30

– Ramon’s book “Do No Harm,” as a visionary guide | 36:00

– Guardian vs. Warrior mindset & when to use each | 37:30

– Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones) – The capabilities & opportunities in Santa Monica | 39:45

– Management of dispatching, how it operates, & the new “Live 911” system | 51:30

– Status on the shift to increased neighborhood patrol | 57:30

– Mindset of continuous improvement & building the leadership for our future | 1:06:00

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About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.
He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.