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Organizational Assessment is the most comprehensive form of technical assistance in the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative. This program provides a voluntary, proactive, non-adversarial vehicle for law enforcement agencies to work with the DOJ to ensure efficient and effective policing for the communities they serve while ensuring officer safety and wellness.
Program Features
Community Engagement
Engaging the community in a meaningful way throughout the Organizational Assessment process is pivotal to the program’s success. The assessment team will develop a strategy entailing a multifaceted approach to obtain feedback from the community through mechanisms such as listening sessions, focus groups, individual interviews, and other methods of engagement.
Comprehensive Assessment
Assessment Teams will apply standard methods for conducting organizational assessments, including document reviews, interviews, focus groups, direct observations, and data analysis. Assessment teams will work sequentially through topics in collaboration with agencies, with advisement and guidance from a wide variety of stakeholders. In formulating recommendations, assessment teams will be transparent and forthcoming with agencies in the justification for each.
Timely Implementation of Improvements
As areas of need are identified and validated, the agency and the team will immediately work toward implementation while balancing the need for prioritization and connecting interrelated improvements. Implementation will occur on an ongoing basis throughout the process.
Request Assistance
To submit a request under the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative please complete the following:
If you wish to contact the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team, please email [email protected] or call the COPS Office Response Center at 1-800-421-6770.
Active Organizational Assessment Sites
The COPS Office is currently engaged with the following sites:
Bay Minette, Alabama Police Department (BMPD). The COPS Office, in conjunction with the Organization Assessment providers the Center for Justice Research and Innovation and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, is conducting an assessment of the BMPD and providing technical assistance to implement improvements. The key focus areas of the engagement are:
- Community Policing and Problem Solving
- Training and Development
- Accountability Systems
- Employee Wellness
- Community Engagement and Partnerships
Closed Organizational Assessment Sites
- Charlottesville, VA, Police Department (CPD). The COPS Office, in conjunction with the Organization Assessment providers the Center for Justice Research and Innovation and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, conducted an assessment of the CPD and provided technical assistance to implement improvements. The key focus areas of the engagement were:
- Community Policing/Problem Solving
- Crime Analysis/Crime Prevention
- Employee Wellness, Training and Development, and Retention
- Resource Analysis and Strategic Planning
- Accountability, Oversight, and Evaluation
- Dearborn Heights, MI, Police Department (DHPD). The COPS Office, in conjunction with the Organization Assessment providers the Center for Justice Research and Innovation and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, conducted an assessment of the DHPD and provided technical assistance to implement improvements. The key focus areas of the engagement were:
- Community Engagement and Problem-Solving Strategies
- Accountability and Oversight Systems
- Recruitment, Hiring, Retention, and Promotion Practices
- Employee Safety and Wellness
- Organizational Learning and Data-Informed Practices
- Internal and External Communication
- Hackensack, NJ, Police Department (HPD). The COPS Office, in conjunction with the Organization Assessment providers the Center for Justice Research and Innovation and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, conducted an assessment of the HPD and provided technical assistance to implement improvements. The key focus areas of the engagement were:
- Data-Driven Policing
- Employee Wellness, Training, and Professional Development
- Community Engagement and Problem-Solving Strategies
- Internal and External Communications
- Leadership and Organizational Structure
- Accountability and Oversight Systems
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Police. The COPS Office, in conjunction with the Organization Assessment providers the Center for Justice Research and Innovation and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, conducted an assessment of the DNR Police and provided technical assistance to implement improvements. The key focus areas of the engagement were:
- Community Policing
- Workforce Development
- Strategic Planning
- Employee Wellness
- Technology, Data, and Organizational Learning
- Accountability and Oversight Systems
- Marysville, KS, Police Department (MPD). The COPS Office, in conjunction with the Organization Assessment providers the Center for Justice Research and Innovation and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, conducted an assessment of the MPD and provided technical assistance to implement improvements. The key focus areas of the engagement were:
- Community Policing
- Workforce Development
- Strategic Planning
- Employee Wellness
- Technology, Data, and Organizational Learning
- North Miami, FL Police Department (NMPD). The COPS Office, in conjunction with the Organization Assessment providers the Center for Justice Research and Innovation and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, conducted an assessment of the NMPD and provided technical assistance to implement improvements. The key focus areas of the engagement were:
- Crime Prevention and Analysis
- Technology
- Employee Wellness, Training and Development, and Retention
- Resource Analysis and Strategic Planning
- Community Engagement
- Oversight and Accountability
- Sacramento, CA, Police Department (SPD). The COPS Office, in conjunction with the Organization Assessment providers the Center for Justice Research and Innovation and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, conducted an assessment of the SPD and provided technical assistance to implement improvements. The key focus areas of the engagement were:
- Organizational Structure and Workload Analysis
- Civilianization and Alternate Response
- Calls for Service Analysis
- Community Policing
- Technology
Resources
FAQs
All requests must be received from the chief executive of a law enforcement agency or with expressed authorization from the chief executive of the law enforcement agency. Requesting agencies do not need to be a member of any partnering organization to be considered for technical assistance services. Requesting agencies should be from a state, local, county, tribal, campus, or territorial law enforcement agency that has primary enforcement authority and patrol function in its jurisdiction.
Are other services provided beyond those already described?
The COPS Office understands that each technical assistance request is unique and are open to exploring other services should specific needs arise. Please note this is not a grant program and certain costs cannot be supported through this engagement to include agency personnel and equipment needs.
What happens after I submit a request?
- Upon receipt, COPS Office staff will contact you to assess/define the request, discuss the process, obtain additional pertinent information, and align expectations
- The COPS Office will assess your agency’s eligibility and readiness for participation in the program.
- If eligible and ready, we will start the process to develop a work plan. This work plan includes a detailed description of the technical assistance, subject matter experts, and staff assigned to your project. The work plan is subject to your review and concurrence before we move forward.
- Upon finalization of the work plan, we will begin the assessment and technical assistance process. Throughout delivery, we will work closely with your agency, its leadership, and all stakeholders to continue to ensure we are meeting expectations.
