The ninth annual “Community Policing in Action” Photo Contest is now accepting submissions! Since 2014, the COPS Office has invited law enforcement agencies to submit photos of the law enforcement community forming connections with the public. The COPS Office is excited to continue to provide this platform for law enforcement to share their creative community policing moments.

Contest Overview:

State, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies are invited to submit one photo that reflects the agency’s positive community engagement and trust-building with community members, stakeholders, local government, and others. The complete contest Rules, Terms, and Conditions, and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on our website.

The COPS Office will select 12 winning photos to be featured on the COPS Office website and its Twitter and Facebook headers for one month during the 2023 calendar year. The winners will also be featured in this newsletter, the Community Policing Dispatch, as well as in a COPS Office–issued press release. There is no cash award or other prize for this photo contest.

Submissions will be accepted through Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

How to Enter a Submission:

Read all contest Rules, Terms, and Conditions carefully before submitting your photo entry.

1. Select or snap a photo that best conveys your agency’s “community policing in action.”
• Please note that horizontal images are preferred.


2. Fill out the following mandatory forms:*
• Permission and Release to Law Enforcement Agencies Form for the image.
• Privacy Consent, Waiver, and Release Authorizing Use and Disclosure of Photographic Image Form(s) for each recognizable individual.
  *Submissions will not be accepted without the Permission and Release form and the Privacy Consent, Waiver, and Release form(s).


3. Include the following background information for the image:
• A brief description of the photo
• An explanation of how it reflects your department’s positive community engagement
• Photo credit (examples: Photo courtesy of [name of law enforcement agency] or Photo taken by [name of photographer])


4. Email in your complete submission by 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.

About the Forms:

All legal forms must be included in your agency’s submission for the photo to be included in the contest. You may be disqualified if you do not submit these forms or fill them out properly.

• Permission and Release to Law Enforcement Agencies Form: An authorized law enforcement representative must sign this form. By signing this form, the agency confirms the following:
• It owns the copyright to the image (or has obtained the necessary permission(s) from the copyright owner—please include photo credit).
• The agency grants the DOJ authority to use the image in any media format for Federal Government purposes.
• Privacy Consent, Waiver, and Release Authorizing Use and Disclosure of Photographic Image Form(s): All recognizable individuals within the photo must sign this form. By signing this form, the individual confirms the following:
• The DOJ is authorized to use their photographic image for Federal Government purposes.
• Individual consents to disclosing their photographic image to the public.

Please see our contest Rules, Terms, and Conditions for more important details about the forms.

For updates on the contest, please subscribe to COPS Office email notifications and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Email tellcops@usdoj.gov with any questions.

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