SPD: Peelian Principles  

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Sheridan Police Chief Travis Koltiska and Captain Tom Ringley discussed the philosophy that guides much of modern policing and the department. 

Koltiska explained the department applies the principles of Sir Robert Peel, emphasizing crime prevention, public trust and impartial service. 

Chief T. Koltiska 

Peel developed the nine principles from three core ideas. The first core idea; the goal is preventing crime, not catching criminals.

Ringley said a gauge of excellent policing is a community devoid of crime, not a detention center full of criminals. 

Capt. T. Ringley 

The Chief said this is accomplished through the use of  high-visibility enforcement as a proactive strategy to deter crime and improve public safety. 

Ringley gave the example of monitoring traffic in areas with a high number of crashes, where an increased police presence encourages safer driving habits while also disrupting opportunities for criminal activity, as offenders often must travel to commit crimes. 

Officers also conduct bar visits during peak hours to promote responsible behavior and reduce alcohol-related incidents. Those efforts appear to be having an impact, with alcohol-related arrests declining overall and DUI arrests down approximately 25%. 

The SPD Chief thanked owners and servers for being diligent and ensuring patrons are not over-served and noted the reduction is a sign of positive progress. 

At the same time, both Koltiska and Ringley emphasize the importance of balancing enforcement with community trust, ensuring officers remain visible and effective without becoming oppressive.

Sheridan Media will have more stories featuring the SPD Chief and Captain discussing the Peelian Principles and how the department utilizes these to guide them in their duty of policing and earning and maintaining the public trust and confidence.