Changing the police culture: An IA investigator's perspective

3. Changing the police culture: An IA investigator's perspective

Before a cultural change can take place, both police leadership and the rank and file must recognize one is needed. This is the key point made by John Hein in a Police One article published in February 2016. He contends that "Since September 11, 2001, the mindset of many officers has become more aggressive. Many believe they are warriors to combat terrorist aggression while others consider themselves warriors in response to the many political wars on crime.Hein reinforces some of the key points made in the article summarized above. He also believes that "Today’s officer must not only understand his or her own moral and culture values, but the many cultures and values of others. A dedicated officer also must be concerned with a citizen’s sense of honor and respect." These are all issues that trainers and educators have to be falmiliar with as they are often called upon to help with culture change initiatives. Read more

4. IdentityTheft.gov Helps First Responders Help ID Theft Victims‏

By Nat Wood, Associate Director, Division of Consumer & Business Education, Federal Trade Commission

This article overlaps several of our key topic areas. It definitely involves technology but also cross disciplinary cooperation and community policing. IdentityTheft.gov offers immediate help to victims, aids law enforcement, and can be part of a community policing initiative that can help build community trust. Read more

5. Healing Communities – From Resources to Technical Assistance

From an article by Nazmia E.A. Comrie, Editor-in-Chief and Senior Social Science Analyst, The COPS Office

When a community is impacted by distrust of law enforcement or by violence or hate from others in the community, it is vital to foster healing and inclusion and empower community members to work in collaboration with law enforcement. The Office of Community Oriented Policing has established a website dedicated to Healing Communities and a Resource Center that covers topics from hate crimes to gangs and use of force.

In addition, the COPS Office provides assistance to law enforcement agencies that are looking for targeted on-site assistance for incidents, events, or sensitive issues through the Critical Response Initiative or for a long-term, holistic strategy to improve trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve by providing a means to organizational transformation via the Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance. One tool provided by the COPS Office to help build relationships is the Building Relationships of Trust toolkit. The Not In Our Town project resources include free films and guides to help build safe, inclusive communities. Read more

6. How to Strengthen Law Enforcement-Community Relations‏

In September 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a three-year, $4.75 million grant to establish the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice. Led by the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the National Initiative comprises a partnership of the Center for Policing Equity, the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School, and the Urban Institute. The National Initiative is designed to improve relationships between law enforcement and minority communities, as well as advance public and scholarly understandings of the issues contributing to those relationships, with special attention to youth, immigrants, LGBTQIA communities, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and other marginalized communities. Read More

7. Police as Mentors: The Cops Mentoring Kids Program

The Hollywood, Florida, Police Department (HPD) uses mentoring to show that it values the development of its community’s youth. The agency recognizes the importance of raising young people to become upstanding, law-abiding citizens. This Florida city has 20,000 youth, some of whom live in underprivileged areas and need positive role models.

The department established its Cops Mentoring Kids program during the 2015-2016 academic year. This initiative connects Hollywood police officers who serve as mentors with at-risk students in local schools.

Collaboration proves necessary to resolve community issues. Mentoring provides an avenue to change future generations’ mind-sets. Countering and preventing recruitment efforts by criminal and terrorist organizations should concern everyone. Adolescents trying to find their place in the world become most vulnerable to enticement by these groups. Mentoring helps build young people’s self-esteem and values, providing resilience against criminal predators’ misguidance. This link provides details.

8. Louisville's Approach to Building Trust and Legitimacy with the Community

Louisville is one of fifteen sites selected for participation in the Advancing 21st Century Policing Initiative, a joint project of the COPS Office, CNA, and the IACP to highlight agencies who are actively embracing the principles in the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The Police Department makes a special effort to build trust and legitimacy. The department recognizes that exemplary community policing requires actively building of positive relationships with members of the community. It is vital that the community sees law enforcement as allies and not just as enforcement. Some of the ways the department builds positive relationships with the community is through the Chief’s Peace Walks and 21st Century Policing Community Forums.