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Community Policing Week

The Department of Justice - National Community Policing Week

National Community Policing Week - October 2-8, 2016

As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to building stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, the Department of Justice will lead nearly 400 events in support of community policing efforts around the country.  To further that effort, President Obama has designated the week of Oct. 2-8, 2016, as National Community Policing Week.  The week is also an extension of the Attorney General’s 12-city Community Policing Tour that highlighted collaborative programs and policing practices designed to advance public safety, strengthen police-community relations, and foster mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and citizens.  National Community Policing Week builds on President Obama’s efforts to engage with law enforcement and other members of the community to implement key recommendations from the 21st Century Policing Task Force report.

“Strengthening the relationship between law enforcement officers and the communities we serve and protect is one of my top priorities,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch.  “During National Community Policing Week, we will be hosting hundreds of events around the country designed to foster dialogue, promote cooperation, and help citizens and law enforcement officers get to know one another as partners in our shared efforts to build stronger, safer, and more just communities for every American.”

Community policing is a public safety philosophy based on partnership and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities that they are sworn to protect and serve.  At the center of community policing is the idea that all members of the community, both officer and civilian, have a stake in the safety of their neighborhoods where they live and work. 

Event Highlights

Monday, October 3, 2016

  • Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch will visit Dallas, Texas, and hold a 21st Century Community Policing Youth Forum with students,  officer cadets, and Jason Witten and Barry Church of the Dallas Cowboys known for their work to bring communities and law enforcement together. U.S. Attorney John R. Parker for the Northern District of Texas will also attend. The forum will be featured on the Department of Justice Facebook page.

  • Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates will hold a Justice Forum in Atlanta.  Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division, Director Paul Monteiro of the Community Relations Service (CRS), and U.S. Attorney John A. Horn for the Northern District of Georgia will join Deputy Attorney General Yates at the Atlanta Justice Forum. 
    Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates' Remarks before Justice Forum in Denver

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

  • Attorney General Lynch will join Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Erik Wilson at a National Night Out event at the University of North Texas at Dallas.  National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. U.S. Attorney Parker for the Northern District of Texas will also attend.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

  • Attorney General Lynch will participate in a Town Hall on diversity in law enforcement hosted by Howard University.  This discussion is part of the Engaging College Students in 21st Century Law Enforcement Project that resulted from a grant provided by the DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to explore strategies that encourage recruitment among diverse millennials for law enforcement positions.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

  • Attorney General Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Yates will deliver remarks at the inaugural Attorney General’s Awards for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, along with Director Ronald Davis of the COPS Office.  The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local or tribal sworn police officers and deputies who exemplify remarkable achievements in innovative community policing strategies, criminal investigations, and field operations.

Friday, October 7, 2016

  • Attorney General Lynch will conclude National Community Policing week in Newark, New Jersey where she will hold the last in a series of Justice Forums.  U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman for the District of New Jersey will join the Attorney General for the event.

Updated November 29, 2023