There is almost no aspect of policing that does not include or touch the community in some way. To that end, building trust and meaningful, productive partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve is a foundational element of equitable policing.

Excellent agencies will consider community trust and partnership an ongoing, active process in which they collaborate and co-create public safety with their communities. Meaningful engagement with communities most impacted by crime and violence is critical to building communities of trust. Agencies that achieve community trust and partnership work regularly with local leaders, advocates, and community-based organizations to identify and address mutually identified community safety concerns through problem-solving processes. Importantly, to build community trust and partnership, the means through which agencies achieve community safety goals should be co-developed, equitable, and regularly assessed for effectiveness.

homeowner pointing out an issue to a police officer

Resources Related to Community Trust and Partnerships

Visit the Knowledge Lab’s full resource index here.

  • Reset

Guidebook/Tool | 2024

Preparing Law Enforcement Agencies for Embedded Clinicians

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

After Action Report, Guidebook/Tool, Report | 2024

Critical Incident Review Active Shooter at Robb Elementary School

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships

Guidebook/Tool | 2024

Operationalizing Proactive Community Engagement: A Framework for Police Organizations

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Public Transparency

Guidebook/Tool | 2024

Considerations for Specialized Units

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Public Transparency

Report | 2023

Dispatching Community Responders to 911 Calls

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Responding to Mass Critical Incidents

Guidebook/Tool, Video, Other | 2023

Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI)

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships

Guidebook/Tool, Webpage | 2023

Community-Driven Crisis Response: A Workbook for Coordinators

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

Law Enforcement Response to People with Developmental Disabilities: Steps for Deflection or Pre-Arrest Diversion

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

The information provided within these modules has been gathered from various sources, including consent decrees, research, and practitioner and department-developed resources. These webpage modules are intended to be a guide for departments to use to improve their Constitutional policing practices. Additional information and resources may be needed to implement the recommendations successfully. This resource is intended to be dynamic, and the Knowledge Lab will continue to update and add to these modules to provide additional and current guidance for departments.

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