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**U.S. Department of Justice**    Office of Community Oriented Policing Services      145 N Street, N.E.    Washington, DC 20530   www.cops.usdoj.gov×     Menu     - Home
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**Director's Corner:Recognizing Law Enforcement Excellence**
 November 2018 | Volume 11 | Issue 11

Fall has been a busy season for the COPS Office, one in  which we supported two important events. The first was a ceremony held on  September 18th, when Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Deputy Attorney General  Rod Rosenstein, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio, and  Justice Department leadership honored the recipients of the Second Annual  Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.

The awards program, which is administered by the COPS  Office, recognizes excellence in three main categories: innovative policing  strategies, criminal investigation, and field work. This year, 25 law  enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions were honored for their efforts  in these areas, each demonstrating exceptional commitment and creativity in  solving or preventing public safety problems while building trust within their  communities.

Reading through the descriptions of the award winners’  accomplishments, I was impressed by their exemplary work ethic, resourcefulness,  compassion, and unhesitating willingness to sacrifice their personal time as  well as their safety for the benefit of their communities. This was demonstrated  in a wide range of initiatives, ranging from forging partnerships with neighborhood  groups and park personnel to reduce violent crime in a troubled area of Los  Angeles to outfitting teenagers with “drunk goggles” to impress upon them the dangers  of drinking and driving.

I encourage anybody with an interest in public safety to read  the  descriptions of the honorees’ work and share them with others. In addition to  the ideas they may spark and the lessons that can be learned, the narratives are  inspiring. They remind us that police work is not just a job. It is a vocation  in which law enforcement professionals are committed to supporting the safety  and well-being of all members of their communities, not only by responding to  crime but working with the public and other professionals to find the most  effective ways to prevent it—now and in the future.

The process for selecting the awardees included a review of  more than 450 nominations from all across America. As I read through each of  the nominations I could not help but think of all the great work the men and  women in law enforcement do every day. And, in most instances we do not hear or  read about these incredible acts of bravery and sacrifice through the news  media. We need to change the negative narrative about our law enforcement  officers and deputies by communicating more stories of their everyday heroism  and dedication to the public they so tirelessly serve.

On behalf of the COPS Office, I congratulate the Attorney  General’s awardees, all of whom have displayed outstanding dedication and great  thoughtfulness in serving their communities. I also want to recognize the  excellence and commitment of the many “unsung heroes” who serve in our nation’s  18,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement departments. We owe our  appreciation and gratitude to all.

I had the pleasure of meeting many representatives from  these local agencies, as well as criminal justice stakeholders across the  country, at another highlight of the fall season: the 125th Annual IACP Meeting,  which was held in Florida October 6–9. Through COPS Office participation in  forums and workshops, as well as personal interactions with attendees from all  over the world, I heard about today’s law enforcement concerns, not only for  public safety, but for the safety and wellness of the officers themselves.

I was also pleased to receive positive feedback about a  number of COPS Office programs, especially Blue Alert, the new Collaborative  Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance Center (known as CRI-TAC), and our School  Violence Prevention Program. These conversations will greatly assist us as we work  to meet the varied needs of all of our nation’s law enforcement agencies and support  the Attorney General’s goals, especially those of reducing violent crime and  combatting the opioid epidemic.

At each meeting, I was also adamant in my challenge to all  of law enforcement to join the Attorney General and others in the Department of  Justice in changing the narrative about law enforcement. This will not be  achieved quickly, nor without some pushback from those who recklessly criticize  the efforts of the men and women who protect our public safety. However, with  determination and dedication we can be successful in increasing national  awareness of the critical services they provide every day. The COPS Office will  be assisting the Attorney General and law enforcement in this gallant mission  and we look forward to working with each of you. 

 – Director  Keith

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**Read more of the November Dispatch**
- Director’s Corner: Recognizing Law Enforcement Excellence
- Profiles of Distinguished Law Enforcement
- Honor and Courage: Responding to Tragedy
- Leading by Example: Building Relationships with Youth
- COPS Office Increases Tribal Access to Critical Crime Information with $1.5 Million in Support
- New Publications from the COPS Office
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The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

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