Successful Practices & Strategies	 Vol. 5 | No. 7 

Vallejo Police Department 

Vallejo, California 

www.vallejopd.com 

Community policing element	 

Community partnerships and organizational 

transformation 

Problem/issue 

High crime complicated by adversarial 

relationship with the community we serve 

Problem description 

As Vallejo was the first city in California to file bankruptcy in 2008, the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) 

lacked resources and staffing to respond to, let alone prevent, crime. We had an adversarial relationship 

with residents; trust was lacking, residents didn’t feel safe, and we didn’t seek public input on how we 

enforced laws and promoted safety. 

Community policing strategies implemented 

Given low funding and staffing, we realized that our agency needed the community’s help to combat 

crime and changed how we treated both residents and officers. The VPD engaged residents, participated 

in almost 1,200 community events in three years, and increased transparency. We answered calls for 

engagement and social justice for youth. Our officers and residents engage in nonenforcement activities, 

working together to address crime, agreeing on a process and establishing priorities for each 

neighborhood. Activities have included the following: 

•	 Night Walks with clergy 

•	 Launched a summer late night youth 

basketball league 

•	 Monthly youth activities 

•	 Annual Dinner with the Chief 

•	 Monthly Coffee with the Cops 

•	 Operate a Citizen’s Police Academy 

•	 Created a Chiefs Advisory Board 

•	 Formalized partnerships with community 

groups 

•	 Voluntarily participate in Police Data 

Initiative (PDI) 

•	 Increased use of social media 

•	 Launched a phone app 

•	 Hosts “Know Your Rights” events 

•	 Created a “Business Watch” program 

•	 Created a Community Engagement Officer 

position 

•	 Increased officer training 

•	 Opened an off-duty sleeping room to 

reduce officer fatigue 

•	 Integrate officer fitness into culture 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change and/or impact as a result of these community policing efforts 

The VPD was informed in late March 2017 that our agency won the prestigious James Q. Wilson Award 

for Excellence In Community Policing by the Regional Community Policing Institute through the 

California Chiefs of Police Association. Recognized for transforming our department through community 

policing, the VPD followed the recommendations of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing established 

by President Obama in 2014. Now, “what do residents want?” and “how do we ensure we are 

transparent and accountable?” are considered when making policy and strategy decisions. 

Partnerships have blossomed, especially those supporting youth, as requested by the community. A late 

night summer basketball program targeting at-risk youths gives youth a chance to interact with police 

on an informal level, building confidence in and learning from officers about issues like conflict 

resolution and sexual health. Juvenile arrests decreased, and 66% of iBall participants report having a 

good conversation with police. 

School resource officers have returned to schools where they were previously unwelcome. Body-worn 

cameras are worn and data are voluntarily published online. According to residents, there is a palpable 

feeling of positive change on the street. Vallejo went four months without a homicide, the longest 

duration since 2010. Part I (i.e., violent) crimes dropped from 6,815 in 2013 to 5,953 in 2016. Citizen tips 

are used and have steadily increased since early 2015. In addition, the VPD is seeing an increase in 

invitations from community groups to attend events. 

Lessons learned through program implementation 

The VPD has learned many lessons operating with critically low staffing, especially the impact that 

community policing could have on our city. Both police and the community undoubtedly benefit from 

transparency and engagement. “The interaction between the department and citizens doesn’t just boost 

people’s positive feelings about police officers,” Chief Andrew Bidou wrote in a column on the Police 

Foundation website. “It boosted police officers’ feelings about the people. It reminds them that they are 

in fact just regular folks, with feelings and struggles in life that we all endure.” As the VPD became more 

responsive to community needs, residents and stakeholders responded with support, trust, and respect. 

Police learned that citizen engagement has taken longer than expected and wasn’t automatic. Once 

eroded, trust takes time to rebuild. We now understand that police need to be flexible, communicate, 

and listen to residents. VPD engagement with stakeholders is daily thorough in-person meetings, social 

media, and official press updates, and our officers are deeply committed to making a difference in the 

community they serve. 

The opinions contained herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the 

U.S. Department of Justice. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an 

endorsement by the author(s) or the U.S. Department of Justice. Rather, the references are illustrations to supplement 

discussion of the issues. 

The Internet references cited in this document were valid as of the date of publication. Given that URLs and websites are in 

constant flux, neither the author(s) nor the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services can vouch for their current validity. 

Published 2018