Organizations Launch LEO Network to Help Improve Community Relations
A police officer interacts with a child and family at a city firework show in Independence, Ohio. / Credit: Joshua Fawzy via Shutterstock
By Tammy Leytham
With tensions building over the past few years between law enforcement officers and the residents they serve, two organizations have combined efforts to create the nation's first network to support officers tasked with bridging the gap.
MovementForward, Inc., in partnership with Stand Together Trust, recently announced the launch of the Law Enforcement Community-Engagement Network. The first LECEN cohort convened in January, with 20 member agencies represented.
Previously, according to a press release from MovementForward, no national resource existed to help public safety professionals access best practices, peer support, industry expertise or current research to build community engagement.
“For the past several years, we've seen significant strains on the relationship between law enforcement and communities – the most recent example being the tragic death of Tyre Nichols,” said the Rev. Markel Hutchins, president and CEO of MovementForward, Inc.
Effective law enforcement/community engagement is the key to reducing such “appalling incidents,” Hutchins said.
Five former officers from the Memphis Police Department in Tennessee are charged with murder over the death of Nichols, 29, who was stopped for a traffic violation on Jan. 7, then pepper-sprayed, kicked, and punched by officers. Nichols died in the hospital three days later. The officers have pled not guilty.
“We must repair the relationships between police and community members,” he said. “Without doing so, we cannot simply hope for things to get better.”
The LECEN is convened by MovementForward, Inc., a social change organization working to protect, promote and advance civil and human rights for all. MovementForward received support from Stand Together Trust, a member of the Stand Together philanthropic community, which invests in and partners with innovative social entrepreneurs tackling the nation's biggest problems.
“We're excited to partner with MovementForward on the launch of this network of leaders taking a smarter approach to criminal justice – one based on proven methods that prioritize public safety and restore human dignity,” said Brianna Nuhfer, vice president for criminal justice at Stand Together.
The member agencies, which represent a cross-section of agencies, geographies, demographics, and experiences, include:
Aurora Police Department - Aurora, Colo.
Belmont Police Department - Belmont, N.C.
Brookhaven Police Department - Brookhaven, Ga.
Brownstown Police Department - Brownstown, Mich.
Central Connecticut State University Police Department - New Britain, Conn.
Columbia Police Department - Columbia, S.C.
Dover Police Department - Dover, Del.
Faulkner County Sheriff's Office - Conway, Ark.
Fresno Police Department - Fresno, Calif.
Hiram Police Department - Hiram, Ga.
Jackson Police Department - Jackson, Miss.
King County Sheriff's Office - Seattle, Wash.
Memphis Police Department - Memphis, Tenn.
Milwaukee Police Department - Milwaukee, Wisc.
Mooresville Police Department - Mooresville, N.C.
Norristown Police Department - Norristown, Pa.
Oxnard Police Department - Oxnard, Calif.
Roanoke City Sheriff's Office - Roanoke, Va.
San Diego Police Department - San Diego, Calif.
Sinclair College Police Department - Dayton, Ohio
Skaneateles Police Department - Skaneateles, N.Y.
Waco Police Department - Waco, Texas
This inaugural cohort sets the stage for the LECEN’s expansion in the second half of 2023.
Cohort members will be instructed in evidence-based approaches backed by Intergroup Contact Theory, the practice of increasing contact between members of different groups to reduce prejudice, bridge divides, and build trust.
The LECEN will also provide guidance as MovementForward hosts the inaugural Professionalizing Law Enforcement-Community Engagement Training National Conference from May 3-6 in Atlanta.