Working Hand and Glove: Collaboration with Law Enforcement and Recyclers is a Two-Way Street

Richard "Rick" Arrington, CEO and lead consultant/instructor of the Crime Prevention Center for Services was first introduced to the recycled materials industry in 2008 when copper theft was on the rise.

The former military policeman who later served for over 26 years in various capacities at the City of Roanoke, Virginia Police Department reached out to ReMA to develop a training program to teach his team prevention methods with an emphasis on partnership with the recycled materials industry.

"I put together a training program with a representative from ReMA, a prosecutor, and myself. We discussed how each group has a role to play in metals theft prevention and explain their perspectives," Arrington said. "I focused on the idea that we can't arrest our way out of this problem. We need to partner with one another to solve this problem."

After the training, Arrington got a call from ReMA asking if he would do another training for a different group of law enforcement members.

"Eventually we began to discuss the idea of a law enforcement advisory committee and it turned into ReMA's National Law Enforcement Advisory Committee. Initially the committee was designed to educate law enforcement about the recycled materials industry and shed a light on the work of recyclers."

When LEAC launched, only 39 states had relevant laws designed to target metals thefts. Now, every state has laws to combat the rise in these types of thefts.

"I've been a part of LEAC since the beginning. While our members have changed the emphasis has remained the same. We're still pushing the idea of building partnerships with law enforcement. The effort is not just on the industry, but law enforcement also is responsible to put effort into developing relationships and partnerships with recyclers."

One of Arrington's major takeaways from being part of LEAC was learning about how the recycled materials industry operated, especially when it came to the material being stolen.

"I knew the material was valuable from a monetary perspective, but I didn't realize the telecommunications infrastructure being impacted. It's easy for thieves to cut the copper from pole strips and the price of copper has skyrocketed in the last few years," he said. "We've also had to work to get prosecutors to recognize that these aren't petty thefts. Once you realize the big picture, it really changes your viewpoint."

Advice for Law Enforcement: Visit Facilities

To improve relations with recyclers, Arrington recommends that law enforcement take time to visit recycling operations.

"Get to know them and their work before you're showing up after an incident," he said. "Learn about what recyclers do and their process."

Since law enforcement deal with multiple cases every day, it may take time before they can turn their attention to cases involving recyclers. If that happens, it's important for law enforcement to understand the recycling process, particularly that materials in a recycled materials operation may move out quickly.

"Recyclers have limited space in their operations, and the time that there's material on their property that isn't moving costs them money," Arrington said. "Law enforcement need to understand that the material won't be on the property for a long time. That's why developing a relationship is so important, it's as simple as understanding what each group needs. You don't get that unless you reach out and communicate."

Advice for Recyclers: Make Time to Participate

Arrington suggests that recyclers research and participate in events hosted by law enforcement in their communities. A good place to start is National Night Out, an annual, nationwide event held on the first Tuesday of August to foster police-community partnerships.

"All recyclers need to do is reach out to the coordinator and tell them they want to be part of National Night Out and ask how they can engage," he said. "National Night Out is a great time because it's the event where law enforcement recognizes crime prevention efforts from community members."

He also recommends ReMA members participate in the presentations that he and Todd Foreman, ReMA's Senior Director of Law Enforcement Outreach, hold for members of law enforcement about the recycled materials industry.

"It's important for the members of LEAC and for law enforcement to have opportunities to encounter and work one-on-one with recyclers," he said. "When we do presentations, we always try to have recyclers speak to the law enforcement community to put a face on recycling. In society today, it's easy to dehumanize people and see groups as entities rather than people. When law enforcement meets with recyclers, then the officers are more likely to open up, ask questions, and realize that recyclers truly want to work with them."

Advice for Both Groups: Acknowledge One Another

Another piece that Arrington has emphasized is encouraging law enforcement and recyclers to recognize each other in some way. Awards can make a powerful impact and local law enforcement organizations may offer annual citizen crime prevention awards to recognize strong community partnerships or for providing significant assistance to help reduce crime.

"In that vein, local law enforcement could recognize recyclers who are working to bring down and prevent these thefts," Arrington said. "Recyclers are working hand in glove with their local law enforcement to identify these problems. Giving recyclers an award they can hang in their lobby or at their scales not only lets them proudly display their partnership with law enforcement, but also signals to criminals that these recyclers are working with law enforcement."