New London — The relationship and communication between the police department and the community it serves could be improved.

That was the frank assessment shared by police officers and community members alike Thursday during a panel discussion that touched on everything from race relations to mental health issues.

The panel was moderated by Channel 3 News' Kevin Hogan and hosted by the City Council and Mayor Michael Passero.

“Part of the perceived problem is we don’t actually see police in our neighborhoods until there is a problem that needs to be solved,” said the Rev. Wade Hyslop of Trinity Baptist Church, also a former city councilor and state representative, during a discussion on why officers and community members feel disconnected.

Hyslop said police officers don’t walk through the neighborhood anymore, “they speed through.”

“It’s almost like they’re trying to avoid seeing something that they might have to prevent,” he said.

Many on the panel mourned the loss of walking beats where officers were able to build relationships with residents in particular neighborhoods, making connections with both children and parents.

“There were lot of problems solved without anyone even calling the police department,” said former police Officer Joseph Geraci.

But the lack of manpower in New London has hindered any community policing and outreach efforts, according to former city police Captain Kenneth Edwards.

From a high of 96 officers, the department has dropped to a force of about 70.

“The New London Police department is kind of fighting with one hand tied behind its back. There have been manpower shortages through the years but never this long and never this sustained,” Edwards said. “We’re not going to improve police community relations in a crises setting.”

New London NAACP President Jean Jordan said a consistent presence in the neighborhoods also will lead to better mutual respect with perhaps police and residents less suspicious of one another.

Shineika Fareus, a local youth advocate, said citizens deserve to know their officers.

“A police department should not be separated from the community,” she said.

New London Police Department Deputy Chief Peter Reichard said he came into New London to help champion a community policing philosophy.

But he said residents might be surprised to find that there may be just four or five officers working on some shifts — emphasizing the limits of a department that typically is reacting to calls for service.

Police Union President Todd Lynch said the lack of officer also has led to a drop in the number of programs, including a school resource officer, a youth division, motorcycle patrols and officers working a Safe Neighborhoods initiative.

“As numbers decrease, you can’t do everything you could when you had the numbers,” he said.

Other topics touched on Thursday included resources expended on mental health issues and the treatment of minorities by some officers.

The Rev. Florence Clark of Walls Clarke Temple AME Church said black families must have “the talk” with their children to teach them the correct things to do or not do in the presence of a police officer.

Kris Wraight, the chairwoman of the Police Community Relations Commitee said it was heartbreaking and ”unacceptable” that minorities need to teach their children certain behaviors around police officers in order to stay safe.

“I believe truly we are the inheritors of a completely broken system,” Wraight said. “I do not think the New London Police Department is the problem. I think the roots of policing in the country are the problem.”

Tracee Reiser, also a member of the committee, agreed and said it would help if the police force were more representative of the community — more women, bilingual officers and people of color.

Reichard said the department, like many others in the state, is seeking new ways to gather larger and he hoped more diverse pools of applicants.

g.smith@theday.com