The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today released a new report, “Law Enforcement Solutions By the Field, For the Field: Collaborative Reform Second Annual Review,” that highlights the progress made since the release of the first annual report of the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC). CRI-TAC brings together an unprecedented cohort of police leadership, unions, and other law enforcement organizations to provide tailored, critical technical assistance to state, local, campus, and tribal law enforcement agencies.

The report on CRI-TAC’s second year demonstrates how the center has supported law enforcement agencies in their efforts to ensure public safety in their communities. The report presents performance metrics, case studies, and testimonials on the efficient and responsible delivery of “by the field, for the field” assistance to law enforcement agencies.

In just two years, CRI-TAC has fielded over 300 requests from agencies that are seeking proactive assistance in areas such as de-escalation, community engagement, school safety, active shooter situations, and officer wellness. Agencies participating in CRI-TAC boast a combined force size of more than 125,000 officers serving communities throughout the United States.

“Through this unprecedented partnership, we work with agencies that seek to enhance their internal operations or service delivery with the goal to improve officer and community safety,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Now more than ever during such a decisive moment in history, CRI-TAC is a perfect example of the positive results that are possible when we work together.”

This work has been accomplished over the past year by the work of these partnerships from the following organizations:

• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates Inc. (FBINAA)
• Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
• International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)
• International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST)
• Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA
• National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE)
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
• National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA)

“The IACP and its nine partner organizations continue to deliver no-cost, cutting-edge training and technical assistance,” said IACP President Steven R. Casstevens. “With its far-reaching impact, CRI-TAC has delivered de-escalation training to agencies in Arkansas, crime analysis assistance in Texas, active shooter training to departments in Illinois, and officer safety and wellness training in California.”

As we look to the third year, CRI-TAC will continue to support agencies seeking technical assistance, as well as meeting the needs of law enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic, developing various trainings on topics such as hate crimes and de-escalation, and supporting various tribal efforts including Operation Lady Justice Task Force.

Through the program, agencies receive technical assistance from leading experts in a range of public safety, crime reduction, and community policing topics. Law enforcement agencies that are interested in receiving technical assistance through the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center should visit the COPS Office website at https://cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform.

To read the full second annual report, visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-W0897 and to read an abbreviated executive summary, visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-W0898.

The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

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