COPS Office and Not in Our Town (NIOT) Release Film to Help Law Enforcement and Communities Work Together on Hate Crime Prevention
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and Not In Our Town (NIOT) released Waking in Oak Creek, the first in a series of films focused on helping law enforcement and communities work together on hate crime prevention.
Not In Our Town's new film Waking in Oak Creek documents the powerful law enforcement and community response to the hate crime killings at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin on August 5, 2012. After six Sikh worshippers were killed and Oak Creek Police Lieutenant Brian Murphy was shot 15 times by a white supremacist, Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards and Mayor Steve Scaffidi worked together to cultivate new bonds with the Sikh community and guide the community forward toward healing. Their efforts embody sound community policing practices.
Through the Working Together for Safe, Inclusive Communities project, DVDs of the film are available free of charge to law enforcement agencies, civic leaders, community groups, schools, national organizations, and others for public screenings and discussions, town hall meetings, internal trainings, conference workshops, and other activities. The DVD can be ordered at NIOT's Waking in Oak Creek page or through the COPS Office Resource Center at 800-421-6770 or askCOPSRC@usdoj.gov.
For a press kit, film trailer, high-resolution images, lesson guide for educators, and resources for screening Waking in Oak Creek in your community, visit NIOT's Waking in Oak Creek page.
Erika Gosser, Not In Our Town
The Working Group
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