The COPS Office is pleased to release a new publication:
Operationalizing Proactive Community Engagement:
A Framework for Police Organizations
This guide is intended to present police leaders with a framework for institutionalizing community engagement strategies to improve their personnel’s willingness to increase proactive, positive interactions with the community.
It draws on the discussions from law enforcement focus groups at every rank from 14 police departments, sheriff’s offices, and state police organizations, synthesizing the results into three themes: (1) defining expectations for proactive community engagement; (2) engaging leaders in proactive community engagement; and (3) establishing proactive community engagement accountability.
To illustrate how these concepts can be applied, the final section presents how a specific proactive community engagement strategy—community walks—can be holistically implemented in a neighborhood experiencing high victimization.
Table of Contents
Letter from the Director of the COPS Office
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Why Proactive Community Engagement
Focus Groups Overview
Focus Group Themes
Theme 1. Define expectations for proactive community engagement
Theme 2. Engage leaders in proactive community engagement
Theme 3. Establish accountability for proactive community engagement
Conclusion
Operationalizing a Community Engagement Strategy: Community Walks
Define expectations for community walks
Engage leaders in community walks
Establish community walk accountability
Conclusion
About the Center for Police Practice, Policy and Research
About the COPS Office
Click HERE to download the document.
