Coming into the discussion late, so not even sure how it became an issue or why it is, but I will say I think it's not even feasible that everyone in a department reside in that city. Some of these cities are just not that large. While I certainly get the concept or thought that officers being a member of the community would help stop the "us versus them" mentality, I just don't know that it is feasible, regardless of the any danger/risks/threats from living in that community.
I had given some thoughts way earlier in the threads that what I do think needs to be done more, is the officers need to be involved with the community more. More than DARE talks to kids where they show up in uniform. I'm talking about community events where they show up in plain clothes and interact with the community to show the community they are human beings, not just some object in a uniform. Develop relationships with the community so they know you are not there just to issue as many tickets and make as many arrests as possible. Show them that you are there to serve them, not just arrest them. There are obviously a ton of things that can and need to be done from the community end as well, starting with the adults taking more of a role in the young people's lives and not turning a blind eye to inappropriate behavior. But I think there are things the department can do to eliminate the "us versus them" mentality without actually living in the city in question.
I had given some thoughts way earlier in the threads that what I do think needs to be done more, is the officers need to be involved with the community more. More than DARE talks to kids where they show up in uniform. I'm talking about community events where they show up in plain clothes and interact with the community to show the community they are human beings, not just some object in a uniform. Develop relationships with the community so they know you are not there just to issue as many tickets and make as many arrests as possible. Show them that you are there to serve them, not just arrest them. There are obviously a ton of things that can and need to be done from the community end as well, starting with the adults taking more of a role in the young people's lives and not turning a blind eye to inappropriate behavior. But I think there are things the department can do to eliminate the "us versus them" mentality without actually living in the city in question.