Chief Grama strengthens community ties in Baltimore through engagement and partnership

In a recent meeting held on July 10, 2025, candidates for the Norristown Police Chief position shared their experiences and strategies for building community trust and improving relationships between law enforcement and residents. One candidate, Mister Grama, drew from his time in Baltimore, Maryland, where he faced significant challenges in community engagement.

Grama recounted his transition from patrol to a community engagement unit, emphasizing the importance of being present in the neighborhoods. He discovered that meaningful conversations often happened on street corners, where community members gathered. By engaging with locals in informal settings, such as bodegas and carryouts, he fostered relationships that transcended typical police interactions. Grama noted that discussing everyday life rather than solely police matters helped bridge the gap between officers and residents.

He highlighted a specific challenge he faced in East Baltimore: the issue of shooting dice, which had historically led to violence. Instead of taking a heavy-handed approach, Grama opted for a more collaborative method. He would observe the games and then engage with participants, explaining the local ordinances while maintaining a respectful dialogue. This softer approach not only built trust but also encouraged community members to share information about local issues, indicating a breakthrough in their relationship.

Grama also addressed his current role as chief in Lansdale, where he encountered a diverse community with a significant foreign-born population. He recognized that many immigrants, particularly from Bangladesh, had a distrust of police due to past experiences. To combat this, he actively participated in community events, including attending prayers at local mosques. This involvement opened channels of communication and allowed him to understand the unique challenges faced by these communities, such as scams targeting vulnerable residents.

Through these efforts, Grama successfully established partnerships that not only improved trust but also led to practical outcomes, such as recruiting a mosque member to serve as a parking enforcement officer. His experiences underscore the critical role of community engagement in modern policing, highlighting that building relationships can lead to safer neighborhoods and a more cooperative environment between law enforcement and the communities they serve.