Published by the National Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement Officers Program (SAFLEO), this issue brief discusses the reluctance of some law enforcement officers to seek mental health treatment.  The people closest to them often hold a special kind of influence when trying to convince their loved ones to seek help.  This SAFLEO issue brief provides ways for family members, friends, and others to support their law enforcement loved ones and shares practical strategies for helping officers in need. 

Hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), this podcast episode discusses how you can submit tips to the Bureau and what happens once you do. Alongside the recording, the FBI also provides a transcript of the conversation. 

Published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), this is a complete assessment of firearms dealings in the United States and the diversion of firearms to illegal markets. Volume I, “Firearms in Commerce,” published in May 2022, focuses specifically on the regulated firearms industry.  According to the report, a crime gun is any firearm used or suspected to have been used in a crime.  This NFCTA volume is the first all-inclusive report to include crime gun information from so many sources—collectively known as “Crime Gun Intelligence”—used by ATF in more than 20 years. Included in this volume is a review of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) and its provisions.  A list of Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs) is included in this report in more detail than in the first volume.  According to the report, GCA states that FFLs are required of those involved in the manufacture or sale of firearms in the United States. GCA also requires licensed firearms importers and manufacturers to engrave or cast serial numbers on their weapons, as well as other unique identifiers.  These markings aid in solving and preventing firearms-related crimes.  Data used in this report pertains to crime guns submitted to ATF for tracing and/or processed for ballistic and related evidence between 2017 and 2021. 

Published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), this publication discusses the importance of victim-centered, trauma-informed approaches to crime.  These approaches enhance victim and community safety while helping law enforcement solve and prevent crime.  The Agency Self-Assessment Tool for Law Enforcement Victim Support is designed to assist law enforcement agencies in reviewing practices related to victim response—specifically the integration of victim-centered, trauma-informed practices into the overall operating philosophy and culture of the agency—through reviews of policy and practices and interviews with sworn and professional staff members.

Hosted by the Justice Clearinghouse and the National Policing Institute, this webinar discusses the importance of victim services in modern policing to help develop programs, philosophies, and departmentwide behaviors that further improve public safety, enhance systems of care for victims, and help achieve department goals. In 2014, the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) had limited experience with agency-based victim services or a victim-centered approach in policing. In less than three years, CPD built a robust Victim Services Unit (VSU) that proved to be a fundamental part of the law enforcement response to a mass-casualty event.  This VSU contributed to reductions in crime and increases in clearance rates; empowered victims; and continues to embody the true spirit of community policing.  From building meaningful and collaborative relationships to improving trust with diverse community groups, the CPD continues to rely on the VSU as a core operational component of its public safety services.  Through after-action analysis and discussion of promising practices, this presentation will highlight the value of a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach to policing. 

When: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., ET