Policing
Partnering with communities and police departments to rethink public safety and renew trust in policing
All people deserve to feel safe in their homes, communities, and country. Safety is a civil and human right without which people cannot thrive and democracy cannot function. But our nation’s approach to public safety — and whom it protects — is at odds with our shared values of fairness, equity, and justice.
Protecting communities and maintaining safety has long been a core responsibility of police. They are first responders to emergencies, behavioral health crises, and violent crime. Yet our county has a troubled history of policing. From early slave patrols to the modern-day criminalization of people of color, policing has sowed deep distrust of law enforcement across our nation. That history is alive today, borne out in disparities in practices ranging from stops and searches to arrests and use of force.
New Era of Public Safety
To ensure that police officers serve and protect people in all communities, The Education Fund launched the New Era of Public Safety initiative, which offers groundbreaking tools to increase trust, fairness, justice, and mutual respect between police departments and the communities they serve. The report and toolkit offer community-centered policy solutions to equip communities and police departments with best practices and recommendations for adopting 21st century policing models, including tools for advocacy.
Latest News
Civil Rights, Law Enforcement Leaders Urge Police to Protect Public Health while Safeguarding Rights
WASHINGTON – Noting an increase in discriminatory policing practices during COVID-19, The Leadership Conference Education Fund released principles that provide actionable recommendations for law enforcement agencies across the country to better protect the health and safety of communities and officers during the pandemic and beyond. The principles, Public Safety During COVID-19 and Beyond: Recommendations for Protecting Public Health and Our Civil Rights, received endorsements from more than 100 civil rights organizations and law enforcement groups, including The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), and Carmen Best, Chief of the Seattle Police Department, Washington and Rashall Brackney, Chief of Police for Charlottesville Police Department, Virginia.
Dallas Civil Rights Advocates Launch Partner-Led Campaign to Improve Policing Practices
DALLAS – The Leadership Conference Education Fund and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights this past weekend introduced the organizations’ Policing Campaign, report, and toolkit for Dallas to advance 21st century and data-driven best practices in policing.
Policing Reform Campaign Urges ‘New Era’ of Public Safety
WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference Education Fund today launched a new campaign, “New Era of Public Safety” featuring groundbreaking tools to increase trust, fairness, justice, and mutual respect between police departments and the communities they serve. The campaign guidebook and toolkit offer community-centered policy solutions to equip U.S. communities and police departments with best practices and recommendations for adopting 21st century policing models, including tools for advocacy. The campaign launch will include a Washington, D.C. kickoff event, featuring leading voices in activism, law enforcement, and journalism.
Contact Us
Interested in learning more or engaging in police reform in your local community? Get in touch with the New Era of Public Safety team for more information.