Published by the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS), this report summarizes a meeting from March 22, 2023, of 50 mayors, police chiefs, and other representatives of law enforcement executive organizations who discussed the cooperation necessary between local government and law enforcement to keep cities safe.  Topics included ordinances, technology options, and community interventions and other initiatives to respond to and reduce gun violence; officer recruitment and retention issues; the use of co-responder models to improve response to people experiencing behavioral health crises; and police reform initiatives.  This publication is a summary of that session.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has released a National Intelligence Council assessment detailing how various foreign governments have utilized digital technology for political repression.  Some governments not only dismantle domestic political discourse, but also intervene with external discourse.   The main goal of these disruptions is either to maintain the status quo or to amass even more political support. The U.S. government utilizes new and emerging technologies in a variety of concerning ways to accomplish such goals. Some of these problematic methods include censorship, misinformation and disinformation, mass surveillance, and invasive spyware. AI (artificial intelligence)-generated deepfakes have also been deployed to manipulate public perceptions.

Hosted by the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) and TASC’s Center for Health and Justice and funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, this on-demand training seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of effective communication strategies for law enforcement and first responder deflection over the course of three interactive educational modules.  These modules will examine the science of addiction, treatment, and recovery and offer practical approaches for building strong community partnerships and effectively engaging individuals struggling with substance use disorders. By implementing deflection initiatives, first responders can serve as a referral source to allow individuals to get the services they want and/or need and improve public health and public safety in our communities.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks applications for funding state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecution agencies for two hate crime programs. The Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations and Prosecution Program will provide funding through BJA to support activities and expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of cold case murders involving civil rights violations, as authorized by the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016. This program supports state and local efforts to address hate crimes and to enhance the investigative skills of law enforcement and prosecution, as well as enhance the rule of law through the resolution of unsolved homicides. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program will provide funding through BJA to conduct outreach, educate practitioners and the public, enhance victim reporting tools, and investigate and prosecute hate crimes committed on the basis of a victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

The deadline to apply is May 31, 2023. 

Hosted by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), this full-day conference will discuss what we’ve learned about body-worn cameras in the last decade.  Ten years ago, the COPS Office asked PERF to develop guidelines on police use of body-worn cameras.  At the time, cameras were a relatively new technology, and there was both curiosity and anxiety about how they would be received by officers in the field.  In the ten years since, many more police departments and sheriffs’ offices have started body-worn camera programs, and for most cops, it’s now an integral piece of equipment.  Agencies have had the opportunity to try out a range of policies and practices. Law enforcement officials and professional staff members directly involved with the development of body-worn camera policies are invited to Washington, DC, for a one-day meeting to discuss lessons learned from ten years of experience with body-worn cameras.

When: Thursday, June 29, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., ET
Where: Washington, DC