“Law enforcement is the toughest job in America.  The challenges our officers face on a daily basis are more complex, more difficult, and more extensive than ever before . . . Several individuals in the past year performed in ways that surpassed even the highest expectations of the profession.  I look forward to recognizing these individuals with the fourth annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.”—Attorney General William P. Barr

Attorney General William P. Barr announced the fourth annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, launching the nomination period for this award.  The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, or tribal sworn, rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in community policing.  The awarded officer(s), deputy(ies) or trooper(s) will have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in policing.

Many people are now being instructed to telework, or work from home. With these changes, it is important to consider security of information. Listed in this article from the National Institute of Standards and Technology are some simple things that can be done to improve your at-home security. The tips apply to almost all situations, and they are relevant whether you are using your organization’s laptop or smartphone or your personal desktop or tablet.

The one question most often asked after someone dies by suicide is, Why? This no-cost webinar, sponsored by Academy Hour, will help explain the factors that lead to thoughts of suicide and the reasons why suicide can seem like the only option for a person who is struggling with mental health issues. The purpose of this webinar is to help explain the causes of suicide to prevent more suicides. The next part in this series will take place on June 2, 2020.

Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., ET

If it’s true that it’s not what happens to you—it’s how you respond that matters—how can you get to a place where you can choose a better response? Justice professionals are immersed in pain, challenge, and crisis every day and are expected to remain resilient, even though they are not taught how. The ability to have a positive mind-set during challenging times comes only after resilience development by finding ways to build bounce back. This no-cost webinar, sponsored by the National Sheriffs' Association, will cover the key factors and tools for building a resilient life, how proactive practice is critical to enjoying your life and a public safety career long-term, and how you can finally find the peace and happiness you have always been looking for.

Date: Tuesday, April 9
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., ET

When it comes to hiring and retention, law enforcement agencies of all sizes and in all parts of the country are facing a quadruple threat: understaffing, fewer applications, a high number of resignations, and increasing retirements. Many leaders are now asking the same question: Where are we going to find the law enforcement officers of the future?

To help answer that critical question, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) conducted a research study and published a report that documents the workforce crisis facing law enforcement and how some agencies are working to address it. This no-cost webinar will review PERF’s research findings and highlight some of the innovative strategies that agencies are adopting.

Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., ET