Md. police chief reaches out to community for support

The beating did not generate the same level of outrage in Prince George's as it did in other places, in part because so many residents are sick of Maryland students and their postgame antics. There also was no racial component that could have inflamed the situation, because the student was white and the skin color of the officers was blocked by riot gear....

According to those who know him, Hylton understands that when residents get to know police officers on a first-name basis, they are less inclined to criticize an entire department for the misbehavior of individuals. Still, residents are exasperated with having to pay millions and millions of dollars to compensate victims of police brutality. And stopping the pattern of misconduct will require systemic changes in the department.

The message to Hylton from civic leaders: Be proactive. Don't just promise to punish abusive cops, but nip the problems in the bud.

Hylton had first brought the civic leaders together last year to announce that police and community cooperation had contributed to a steep drop in crime. The strategy appears to be paying political dividends as well.