Immediate Delivery of TA

Examples of immediate TA include:

• Confidential consultation with law enforcement leaders and subject matter experts
• Onsite meetings and briefings with peer agencies
• Community outreach and engagement
• Training on critical issues

Data Analysis

Examples of data analysis include:

• Racial profiling
• Use of force
• Traffic stops
• Arrests
• Staffing

After-Action Reviews

Critical Response also supports after-action reviews of the law enforcement response to critical incidents when a law enforcement agency demonstrates that this objective review would be beneficial. Through these after-action reviews, the COPS Office and partners will work closely with the local law enforcement agency and other stakeholders to document their approaches, provide feedback on strategies and tactics that were found to work, and identify areas where best and promising practices could be employed in the future.

After-action reviews are conducted within the general framework described in the COPS Office publication, How to Conduct an After Action Review.

Request Assistance

To submit a request under the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative Continuum of Technical Assistance Services, please complete the following:

If you wish to contact the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team, please email TechnicalAssistance@usdoj.gov or call the COPS Office Response Center at 1-800-421-6770.

Active Critical Response Sites

The COPS Office is currently engaged with the following sites:

• Cleveland, OH Division of Police (CDP). The COPS Office in conjunction with Jensen Hughes, a Critical Response provider, is providing a range of technical assistance services and opportunities associated with CDP’s Community Engagement and Problem-Oriented Policing efforts and operations. The intent of the technical assistance is to enhance and strengthen CDP’s community engagement on collaborative problem-solving efforts that address quality of life issues and the underlying conditions that give rise to disorder and crime in Cleveland. In addition, the team is assisting CDP with their recruitment and hiring efforts, to include examining current programs for the candidate pool development and establishing modern standard operating procedures.
  • Type of TA: Technical Assistance
  • Topic(s): Community Policing; Problem-Oriented Policing; Recruitment and Hiring
• Fargo, ND Police Department (FPD). The COPS Office in conjunction with Jensen Hughes, a Critical Response provider, is conducting an external, independent review of FPD’s policies, procedures, and operational protocols associated with the response to and the organizational review of critical investigations, including officer involved shooting incidents. The intent of this review is to assist FPD in determining the extent to which its current policies, procedures, and practices for investigating critical incident responses including officer involved shootings, as well as any associated training addressing this topic, align with what are considered best or emerging practices for a law enforcement agency.
  • Type of TA: Issue-Specific Review
  • Topic(s): Critical Incidents; Officer-Involved Shootings
• Indianapolis Metropolitan, Indiana Police Department (IMPD). The COPS Office in conjunction with the National Policing Institute, a Critical Response provider, is conducting an independent review and analysis of data, records, policies, and practices related to officer involved shootings. The intent of this review is to determine if any patterns or factors may be discerned that provide insight into the recent increase in the frequency of these occurrences, as well as ensure policies, procedures, training, and practices are current and reflect and incorporate accepted state and national best and emerging practices.
  • Type of TA: Issue-Specific Review
  • Topic(s): Officer-Involved Shootings
• Uvalde, TX Police Department (UPD). The COPS Office in conjunction with Jensen Hughes, a Critical Response provider, is providing a range of technical assistance services and opportunities associated with UPD’s training, leadership, and community partnership. The intent of this technical assistance is to enhance UPD’s strategic training plan, leadership development programs, and community trust building initiatives.
  • Type of TA: Technical Assistance
  • Topic(s): Training; Leadership; Community Engagement
• Boston, Massachusetts Police Department (BPD). The COPS Office in conjunction with the National Policing Institute, a Critical Response provider, is conducting an independent review and analysis of operations within BPD’s Human Resources section to determine whether processes and structures within this area can be adapted to increase operational efficiencies and effectiveness.
  • Type of TA: Issue-Specific Review
  • Topic(s): Human Resources
• Philadelphia, PA Police Department (PPD). The COPS Office in conjunction with the National Policing Institute, a Critical Response provider, will work with the PPD to improve the process for removing abandoned cars within the city. The goal of this work is to lower the number of abandoned cars in the city, reduce crime, and improve relations with community members.
  • Type of TA: Issue-Specific Review
  • Topic(s): Process Improvement; Abandoned Vehicles

Closed Critical Response Sites

• Columbus, OH Division of Police (CPD). The COPS Office in conjunction with Jensen Hughes, a Critical Response provider, conducted an independent review of the CDP’s use of force policies, procedures, and operational protocols, along with the training associated with these policies and operations. The intent of the review was to assist the CDP to determine the extent to which its current use of force policies, procedures, practices, and associated training align with what are considered best or emerging practices in policing consistent with modern policing principles and standards.
  • Type of TA: Issue-Specific Review
  • Topic(s): Use of Force
  • Report Link: Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police: Independent Review of Use of Force Policies, Procedures, and Protocols
• Philadelphia, PA Police Department (PPD). The COPS Office in conjunction with Jensen Hughes, a Critical Response provider, conducted an independent and holistic review of the Philadelphia Police Department’s police vehicle crashes. The intent of the review was to assist PPD to determine the extent to which its current directives, policies, procedures, practices, and associated training support an efficient and effective investigative process of police vehicle crashes aligned with modern policing principles and standards.
  • Type of TA: Issue-Specific Review
  • Topic(s): Traffic Collisions