The Police News
November 27, 2009

ALVIN, TX - The Alvin Police Department was recently chosen by Sam Houston State University to serve as an example of positive community policing philosophies and practices to Chinese counterparts.

Accompanied by SHSU College of Criminal Justice Professors Dr. Phillip Lyons and Dr. Jurg Gerber, Zhejiang Police College Associate Professor Ding (Jane) Jingyan toured the APD facility on Nov. 24.

Currently, 16 students from China's Zhejiang Police College are participating in an exchange program with SHSU for an academic year. The Zhejiang province is located on the eastern coastline of China.

In addition to learning about facility layout, internal structure, emergency management strategies, departmental duties and open disclosure policies, the tour served as a precursor to bringing Chinese police college students to Alvin to work with officers in the near future.

"China is moving toward community policing and Alvin has a history of community policing," said Lyons, who worked for APD and is still a reserve officer for the department. "Our hope is to get some Alvin officers to host these students for a week."

According to Lyons, the SHSU exchange program is giving Chinese police college students an opportunity to gain new perspectives of different cultures, address social issues, and become aware of diverse policing environments.

"Alvin has a good reputation and trust with the community and it would be very beneficial for the Chinese officials to learn how that is accomplished," APD Chief Mike Merkel expressed. "That's the way you learn - through experience and exposure; we should be able to plant valuable experiences that they will be able to use in their policing roles."

"When we have international interest, it speaks to the professionalism and progressiveness of the police agency," he continued. "I would think that there are many principles that Alvin possesses that an international police community would be interested in modeling."

During the tour, the similarities and differences of policing in the U. S. and China were discussed. 

Commenting on the "To Protect and Serve" slogan for U. S. police departments, she said, "I think it's the same (belief) to us for policing."

A major difference lies in the structure of the police department in China, Lyons mentioned.

Instead of the over 22,000 different law enforcement agencies in the U. S., all policing is under one department in China. Officers also do not carry firearms.

"As students, they're very different," Lyons said. "They are much more military in discipline and order."

Lyons also discussed Jingyan's expertise with the Chinese police department.

"Her major is traffic," he mentioned. "Their police do what our Metro basically does; it's almost like being a civil engineer. She also teaches the psychology of traffic."

As the result of China's dense population, the police's presence and interaction with the public is different, as well.

When asked about China's changes in policies and world relations in the past few years, Jingyan said, "It's one world; everyone needs to connect with others. You can't close yourself - we can learn from each other."

"We hope to connect to the world, especially the U. S.," she added.  "We welcome people to China; it's different from what your idea is."

Lyons and Gerber, who have both traveled to China for the program, concurred.

"Sending 16 of their best students to us for a year.you have to keep in mind the amazing changes that have occurred (for that to happen)," stated Gerber, who just returned from his tenth visit to the country.

When asked about her views of APD, Jingyan praised the department for its design, organization and camaraderie.

"It's so amazing; it's just like a family here," she said.

 Zhejiang Police College Associate Professor Ding (Jane) Jingyan (third from left to right), of China, and Sam Houston State University Professors Dr. Jurg Gerber and Dr. Phillip Lyons toured the Alvin Police Department to give Jingyan an opportunity to learn about positive community policing philosophies and practices on Nov. 24. SHSU and China are participating in an exchange program so Chinese police college students can gain experience in working with citizens of other countries and gain new perspectives in serving the community.
Also shown are: APD Chief Mike Merkel (right) and Crime Prevention Officer Ruben Solano.