COPS Office leadership and staff will be attending the Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Exposition from October 14–17 at the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) in San Diego, California.

COPS Office subject matter experts will be presenting or moderating at 10 workshops throughout the conference.

You can also find COPS Office staff in the Exposition Hall at booth #3538. Stop by to chat with our team and to pick up the latest community policing resources.

Please refer to the list below for details about our workshops, meetings, and exhibition hours:

Saturday, October 14

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PT

• Building Trust and Empowering Victims of Human Trafficking through Community-Police Partnerships



Human trafficking victims can be anyone and may be hidden; trafficking involves complex, cross-cutting crimes that pose risks to public safety. Effective partnerships that maintain trust between law enforcement, service providers, and victims are key to increased victim identification, service provision, and victim participation in the investigation and prosecution of human traffickers. Agencies using a multidisciplinary approach and principles of community policing—partnerships, problem solving, and organizational change—see success in building trust and strengthening relationships between law enforcement and their communities, including those most vulnerable to trafficking. This session highlights specific anti-trafficking investigatory practices that are collaborative, victim-centered, and effective in building trust.

Sunday, October 15

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT

• A Systems Approach to Managing Police Staffing and Workload Demand



Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the police reform movement, changing demographics and generational preferences, and other factors, many police agencies across the United States have been battling significant shortfalls of sworn staff. Calls for greater diversity and skill sets among police officers further complicate staffing efforts. Various stakeholders typically see this challenge as a recruitment or retention problem, but this characterization oversimplifies the situation, ignoring important factors and leading to piecemeal solutions. In this session, we present and discuss a six-step strategic framework for developing and maintaining effective police workforces and managing workload demand that draws on two decades of research on staffing allocation, workforce profiles, and recruitment and retention.

• Innovative Approaches to Addressing and Reducing Violent Crime



Violence reduction has become increasingly important as law enforcement agencies seek to effectively prevent, identify, and investigate violent crime incidents. A diverse panel of police leaders will share insights about the challenges and implementation process of violent crime reduction strategies so audience members will come away with practical tips and lessons learned on innovative approaches to reducing violence and improving public safety. The COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC) provides customized technical assistance for law enforcement agencies in more than 60 topic areas, including violence reduction.

1:45 – 3:00 p.m. PT

• Annual Mental Health Visits: Vital Knowledge



Regular visits with a mental health clinician (annual wellness visits) are increasingly mandated for law enforcement officers across the United States. As this practice becomes more common, agencies are applying various procedures, standards, and rules, differing from agency to agency and from state to state, with no formal nationally standardized practice in place. Using case studies, this panel discussion will call upon specific examples of potential issues with current practices. Sharing observations from real-world practice, experts in police labor, policy, and mental health will discuss best practices for instituting a program for regular visits between officers and mental health professionals, focusing on identifying practices that will produce positive results and honor officer privacy.

Monday, October 16

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. PT

• Portal to Another Dimension: Enhancing eLearning with the COPS Office



Despite low budgets and staffing shortages, the public is demanding more and better training for police. Using COPS Office training, the Washington Metro Transit (WMATA) Police Department in Washington, D.C., has been able to meet high standards for training while maximizing the effectiveness and impact of training funds, mandating certain trainings for all agency staff while selectively assigning others to specific units and personnel. This panel will examine WMATA's use of the COPS Training Portal, how it has enhanced its staff's understanding of community policing principles and other vital tools, and how that effect can be shared across agencies of all sizes and types. Panelists will also discuss the importance of developing high quality, engaging eLearning courses to ensure long-term effectiveness and impact.

12:15 – 1:30 p.m. PT

• Power in Peers: Harnessing Positive Psychology to Improve Peer Support for Law Enforcement



Power in Peers, a new standardized curriculum in law enforcement peer support, has been developed collaboratively by the National Fraternal Order of Police and the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Office. Crafted by including the best in existing peer support practices and informed by direct input from officers who will become potential consumers of peer support services, the Power in Peers curriculum is an updated model that aims to get in front of stressors rather than merely responding to crises. This presentation provides an overview of the curriculum, focusing on unique facets of the program, research bases of course content, information on obtaining the training for peer support teams, and a review of how its inclusion on current peer support toolbelts will increase access to services.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PT

• Partnerships for Progress: Enhancing Crisis Response in Law Enforcement



Crisis response has become a hot topic for law enforcement in recent years as communities have demanded more effective options for working with people experiencing mental health emergencies. COPS Office staff, grantees, and partners in mental health and co-response will discuss how grants are helping agencies pursue and enhance new avenues for response, including vital partnerships with outside organizations. The panel will highlight recent successes grantee agencies have experienced and how this funding and access to a grantee community of practice have enabled them to confront challenges in crisis response. Future grant, technical assistance, and training related to crisis intervention will also be featured, including evolutions in the program spurred by existing grantee requests.

2:00 – 3:15 p.m. PT

• Supporting the Policing Profession: A Conversation with U.S. Department of Justice Officials



Hear from criminal justice policy leaders, who will discuss some of the most pressing issues facing law enforcement. The panel will provide insight into topics such as recruitment, hiring, and retention; officer safety and wellness; community trust; and violence reduction. Presenting U.S. Department of Justice officials will highlight programs that can help support your agency in solving and preventing crime and improving community safety.

Tuesday, October 17

8:15 – 9:30 a.m. PT

• A National Discussion: Finding Solutions and Strategies for Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention



This workshop will discuss the partnerships and work being done with law enforcement, through Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and COPS Office support, in identifying short-term responses and long-term strategies to support law enforcement agencies in their efforts to recruit and retain qualified professionals. The workshop will describe nationwide activities, emphasizing how recruitment and retention play an integral role in the larger issues of law enforcement wellness and safety, violent crime reduction, crime prevention, community trust, and community safety. Presenters will identify and highlight recommendations, solutions, strategies, and resources both developed and in development.

8:15 – 9:30 a.m. PT

• Managing Protests and Demonstrations: Best Practices for Police Interactions with the Media



Managing protests and demonstrations presents many challenges, but having the right training and policies in place can help law enforcement protect both the safety and the constitutional rights of all involved. The U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Office is partnering with the Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press in developing practical, high-impact guidance for law enforcement to ensure that the important work of the press can be performed and protected. Attendees will hear from prominent members of the press and law enforcement leaders to learn about best practice protocols, policies, and training, as well as real-world and tested solutions for what to do and—importantly—what not to do.

Exhibition Booth #3538

• Saturday, October 14, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 15, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Any changes, updates and room information can be found on the IACP Conference website.

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