The L. Anthony Sutin Award for Innovative Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships recognizes the efforts of innovative and sustained law enforcement and community partnerships whose unique collaborations have transformed public safety in their communities.

This award is bestowed on partnerships in which law enforcement is actively engaged with the community in a multifaceted manner that has been sustained over time and has resulted in positive, observable outcomes or advances in public safety or public trust.

Nominations

The award recognizes the efforts of collaborative partnerships that have transformed public safety in their community through their interactions. Ideal nominees are actively engaged with their community in a multifaceted manner, resulting in positive, observable public safety outcomes. Teams must consist of at least one law enforcement officer, who must be an officer in a state, local, or tribal law enforcement agency, and one community member.

This award is provided to the team that:

1. creates collaborations that are innovative, creative, and transformative;
2. demonstrates sustainability and institutionalization of efforts;
3. develops partnerships that involve relevant stakeholders in the community;
4. produces positive observable public safety outcomes;
5. promotes public safety through a dedication to the community policing philosophy.

Nominations for the award are now open until 8:00 p.m. ET, August 2nd, 2023.

History of the Award

The L. Anthony Sutin Award for Innovative Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships is named in memory of Tony Sutin, who served as a founder and Deputy Director of the COPS Office from its creation in 1994 until 1996, when he became the Principal Deputy to the Associate Attorney General of the United States. He then served as acting Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs before joining the faculty of the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia, in 1999. He quickly became dean and served in that capacity until his untimely death on January 16, 2002.

A distinguished graduate of Harvard Law School and former partner of the law firm Hogan & Hartson in Washington, D.C., Tony was widely known and respected for his brilliant intellect, quiet wit, and tremendous commitment to service and community. It is with great admiration and respect for Tony’s many contributions to the COPS Office and the principles of community policing that the COPS Office has named this award in his memory.

Recent Sutin Award Winners

2021 Winners:

• Cincinnati Police Department Military Liaison Group and Cincinnati VA Medical Center

2018 Winners:

• St. Cloud (Minnesota) Police Department and the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) Police Department and Promise Youth Development

2017 Winners:

• Newport News (Virginia) Police Department, Newport News Sheriff's Office, and An Achievable Dream, Inc.

To nominate a partnership for the 10th Annual Sutin Award, please send a completed nomination form and narrative to SutinAward@usdoj.gov.

Direct all general inquiries to LaToshia Austin and Sarah Estill at SutinAward@usdoj.gov. To learn more about the award, visit 2023 L. Anthony Sutin Award for Innovative Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships.

Nominations must be sent via email to SutinAward@usdoj.gov (ATTN: Sarah Estill and LaToshia Austin) by 8:00 p.m. ET, August 2nd, 2023.

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