BEND, OR -- The Bend Police Chief's Advisory Council (PCAP) is accepting applications for new members. The department's Sheila Miller says the group advises the chief and the agency on various issues and acts as a communications conduit between community networks and Bend Police. "The goal is kind of just to build trust and keep trust between community members and the police department. Most people, I think it's fair to say, don't encounter police on a daily basis, and they don't necessarily know how the police work or why they do what they do." 

Chief Mike Krantz restarted the 20-member PCAC in 2022, after a pandemic hiatus. "Those people, for the most part, served their two-year terms and so we've got quite a lot of people coming up," says Miller, "We need to fill some spots, and so we've opened up the application process."

She says the department wants a diverse group of applicants from all corners of the city. "I know that often you see committees and everybody is the same because it's sort of a self-selecting thing. We want people who are from different walks of life, who have had different experiences, maybe in Bend or in other parts of the country with police, who are open to sharing their experiences or sharing their opinions; and then also who have connections to the greater community who can share out what we want people to know about us."

Committee members participate in monthly meetings. "It runs about 90 minutes to two hours. And we want them to participate in Community Academy, as well as go on ride-alongs with officers," Miller tells KBND News. "This allows community members to connect with officers and command staff at the police department, learn more about what the police department is doing, and then push back or share their opinions and then also share what they learn at the police department with their community."

Applications are available on Bend PD's website and are due by 5 p.m. July 22nd.