News

Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and published in partnership between the National Police Foundation (NPF) and the Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) Program, Staying Healthy in the Fray – The Impact of Crowd Management on Officers in the Context of Civil Unrest discusses the challenges of high stress police operations like crowd management. Crowd management often challenges officers to push their bodies beyond normal limits, leading to poor performance, fatigue, insomnia,…

Recently, several programs related to forensic science moved from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). New publications and fact sheets for a number of forensics programs are now available, including “DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program”; “Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program”; and “Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence.” BJA’s forensics-related programs enable communities to develop efficient, accurate, reliable, and cost-effective methods for the identification, analysis and interpretation of physical evidence…

As it prepares for reopening following the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Law Enforcement Museum begins installation of its newest exhibit, “Post-9/11: The Evolution of American Law Enforcement,” where artifacts from the disaster – including a 2,200 pound steel beam from the World Trade Center and a 6,300 pound concrete block from the Pentagon – have arrived to be positioned for visitors to experience. The exhibition is being installed in the DuPont Gallery of the museum which will house artifacts and…

Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement Officers (SAFLEO) Program focuses on the mental and physical wellness of law enforcement officers. The law enforcement community deserves better access to officer wellness and suicide prevention resources to help address officers’ well-being. The SAFLEO Program answers that need. SAFLEO offers training, customized technical assistance and online resources designed to support officers as they engage in seeking help activities and to help agencies implement wellness and…

On August 12, 2021, the United States Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) announced the expansion of its Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) to help communities across the country reduce domestic violence homicides and injuries committed with firearms. OVW will award an estimated $6 million for up to 12 sites and $4 million for training and technical assistance on firearms and domestic violence. “Enforcing gun laws and keeping firearms from the hands of perpetrators of domestic violence…

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) recently released a new resource, Bridging the Gap: Using Sports to Build Trust with Local Law Enforcement. Nancy Lieberman Charities has opened 92 Dream Courts, state-of-the-art play spaces serving more than four million children each year in a variety of community sporting activities, including some involving local law enforcement in programs funded by the COPS Office. To obtain a copy of this resource, visit https://tinyurl.com/ycexxy5z

Published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Policing the Front Lines of the Opioid Crisis discusses the role which law enforcement officers play on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. They are responsible for emergency response, preserving public safety and enforcing the law. This publication discusses the challenge of reconciling the conflicts which can arise among these roles and presents recommendations for alleviating these difficulties and improving law enforcement response to the opioid crisis. Go to https://tinyurl.com/yf5uetzj to…

Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) Program is now offering its VALOR Officer Safety App available via Google Play and the App Store. Preparation is the foundation of success in any profession. The VALOR Officer Safety App promotes mental and physical preparation to help you successfully meet the needs of the communities you serve each day. The app offers several features, including ways to prepare with…

Published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), this report, “Law Enforcement Officer Suicide – 2021 Report to Congress,” discusses suicide among law enforcement and ways to prevent thoughts of suicide from becoming actions. This report assesses the availability of existing mental health resources for law enforcement agencies. It provides a review of peer responder programs and makes recommendations for establishing evidence-based behavioral health and suicide prevention efforts for both law enforcement and other first responders, as requested in Senate…

The COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Office recently announced the release of a publication suite focused on creating an organizational culture of wellness for officers and their support networks. Law enforcement officers regularly experience stress and secondary trauma during their shifts and rely on their families and friends as a positive social support network to maintain holistic wellness. Family Matters: Executive Guide for Developing Family-Friendly Policies, Procedures, and Culture and its companion tools for families and agencies guide professional dialogue…