There are many positive stories that Sparkle Peterson, principal of the Jessie Elwin Nelson Academy, can tell you about the Signal Hill Police Department. In a phone interview this week, Peterson shared how DeAngelo Gossett, the academy’s former school-resource officer had become a welcome presence on campus. He was the kind of policeman who forged deep friendships with the kids and offer gold “police badge” stickers to anyone who asked.

Peterson described how she was surprised that middle-school kids, who usually liked to be cool, didn’t mind the association with the police.

“It’s a very positive relationship,” Peterson said, “so they proudly wanted to wear [the badges].”
Gossett would have frank conversations with kids about bullying, drugs and gang activities, but he would also make sure in special ceremonies at City Hall that he would recognize the kids who exemplified integrity and leadership. Some would earn a certificate from the City as well as a $100 gift card. Gossett has now been promoted to a senior police officer assignment away from her campus, and Peterson praised his work during his time there.

“He was really seen as a confidante…and also really a mentor, especially to some of the boys,” she said.

It’s Gossett’s contribution to the tiny world of sixth through eighth graders that exemplifies what Police Chief Michael Langston and the Signal Hill Police Foundation are trying to accomplish– community ties, especially with young people in the city.

In just a few short weeks, the new Signal Hill Police Foundation will be hosting a kick-off event. The ceremony will take place on 6:30pm on Jan. 28 at the Betty Reckas Cultural Center at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church located at 5761 E. Colorado St. in Long Beach. The event will also include an awards ceremony for the department.

Langston explained in an interview that the purpose of this new foundation is not simply to raise money for projects that aren’t funded by city funds.

“This one’s a little bit different,” Langston said of the foundation, “in that its real focus is just to help create community and relationships amongst the residents and businesses here in Signal Hill with the Signal Hill Police Department.”

The department already hosts various events throughout the year, including the National Night Out and its own open-house events during the summer. The foundation will also help organize these events and is hoping individuals and community members will join the organization.

The police chief stressed that so far, community relationships with the department are good and that his officers are noted for their professionalism, but he acknowledged that Signal Hill didn’t always have that reputation with its neighbors.

“There were some incidents that happened 30 years ago that even today people still remember,” the police chief said. “But this is a completely different police department…[We] went through a whole change in culture some years ago, and it’s just progressively been getting better.”

He particularly noted that since that time, newer city council leaders changed the culture over the years, especially when it came to transparency in conduct. As an example, he said that the department has used cameras in their cars for years and that the police recently asked to add body-worn cameras to its equipment inventory.

Debra Russell, a foundation board member, noted that there is a new emphasis on building deeper relationships by the police chief.

“His mission and his desire is really for the police department to get to know the community better, and [for] the community to get to know the police department better,” Russell said.

Fellow board member Peterson seemed delighted over the new foundation’s focus.

She emphasized that the police department has treated all her staff, teachers and especially students well. Peterson said she especially hoped that the students would go home to tell their families about positive interactions with police officers like Gossett.

The Nelson Academy principal was sworn into serving on the foundation board last month, but she recognized that the responsibility to develop better ties between the police department and the community falls on both parties.

“If we’re to ever change the mindset, it’s about having better relationships,” Peterson concluded, “It takes work from both sides.”

More information
Kristi Morgan
Signal Hill Police Foundation
(562) 989-7275