Get your cameras ready, because the 2024 “Community Policing in Action” Photo Contest is open and accepting submissions! Over the past decade, law enforcement agencies from across the country have submitted thousands of heartwarming, powerful moments captured on camera that showcased the connections between law enforcement and the community they serve.

The COPS Office is excited to continue this tradition and again invite law enforcement agencies to showcase the spirit of community policing through the lens of a camera.

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 the photo contest website.

The COPS Office will select approximately twelve (12) winning photos that may be showcased as headers on the COPS Office Twitter and Facebook pages and on the homepage of the COPS Office website. Winning agencies may also be featured in an article in the COPS Office e-newsletter, the CP Dispatch, and/or 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 1, 2023, 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.
   • Photo may include community members of all ages, however, we highly encourage photos depicting positive interactions with adults.
   • All pictured officers recognizable in the photo must be in good standing.


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 1, 2023.

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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