The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today released a new report, “Law Enforcement Solutions By the Field, For the Field: Collaborative Reform Annual Review,” that highlights the progress made to date of the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC). In 2017, the Department of Justice announced an unprecedented grant award to a coalition of police leadership, unions and other law enforcement organizations to come together to provide tailored technical assistance for local policing agencies.

The report highlights the work of the CRI-TAC, they key partners involved, and how the COPS Office is providing field-driven technical assistance. Inside the reader will find program performance metrics, case studies, and testimonials on how the CRI-TAC has benefitted law enforcement agencies across the country. In just one year, the CRI-TAC has fielded over 150 requests for assistance on critical issues in law enforcement such as de-escalation, intelligence and information sharing, active shooter response, crisis intervention, and school safety.

“The CRI-TAC is a perfect example of the positive results that are possible when we work together,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “The partnership represented by this coalition of professionals is unlike anything I’ve seen in my more than four decades in law enforcement. When chiefs and sheriffs and management and unions come together with a common goal, the entire law enforcement field benefits.”

The CRI-TAC provides results-oriented technical assistance and includes partners from the following organizations:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates (FBINAA)
• Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
• International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
• International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST)
• Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA)
• National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE)
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• National Sheriffs’ Association
• National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA)

Through the program, agencies receive technical assistance from leading experts in a range of public safety, crime reduction, and community policing topics. Law enforcement agencies that are interested in receiving technical assistance through the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center should visit the COPS Office website at https://cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform.

The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.