COPS Training Portal

Course Overview: After-Action Review and Reporting: An Introduction, an eLearning course, provides an overview of after-action review and reporting processes, as applied within a law enforcement organization following incidents ranging from common, everyday situations to complex, high-impact, critical incidents.

The application of after-action reviews is an effective organizational learning tool and powerful community policing strategy. This course equips law enforcement personnel with a basic understanding of when and in what circumstances an after-action may be best utilized, as well as how to conduct impactful reviews that result in written reports, including guidance on ways to organize, document, and communicate the findings of an after-action review. Although designed specifically for first line supervisors or officers in charge of conducting/overseeing the after-action process within an organization, this course benefits all local, state, and tribal law enforcement personnel, regardless of rank or position. Non-law enforcement community stakeholders may enhance their awareness of community policing efforts by taking this course. Learners may access and utilize an assortment of multimedia resources as needed in the future.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the basic principles of community policing as they relate to the after-action process
• Discover what makes after-actions a credible learning tool for law enforcement
• Explore the role of after-actions in identifying and addressing wellness issues stemming from critical incidents
• Explore the dynamic nature of the after-action review process
• Identify ways to determine the type of review to conduct
• Distinguish informal reviews from formal reviews, and the circumstances in which either may be most appropriate
• Describe the leader or supervisor’s role in guiding and institutionalizing the process
• Discover essential qualifications for an independent review team or consultant
• Identify the role of comprehensive, well-written reports in the after-action review process
• Examine the fundamental information typically included in written after-action reports
• Explore the National Police Foundation’s online library of published Incident Reviews

Target Audience: Public safety practitioners, first line supervisors or officers, local, state, and tribal law enforcement personnel, and non-law enforcement community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI), formerly known as Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, and was supported by cooperative agreement 2015-CK-WXK-003 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

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Course Overview: Community Policing Defined, an eLearning course, provides learners with a basic awareness and understanding of the fundamental principles and best practices of community policing. This course examines practical problem-solving methodologies and applies best practices of community policing.

Comprised of four modules, the topics explore partnerships, problem solving, and organizational transformation as they relate to specific issues and challenges facing today's law enforcement professionals and the communities they serve. Based on the Department of Justice, COPS Office publication of the same name, Community Policing Defined not only describes the practice of community policing, but also examines how it can be effectively applied.

Through this course, learners examine the interconnectedness of Problem-Oriented Policing, the SARA model, and the Crime Triangle.

Learning Objectives:

• Define community policing
• Describe the fundamental principles of community policing
• Examine practical problem-solving methodologies, including the SARA model
• Interpret best practices of community policing
• Identify examples of ways in which a law enforcement agency can interact, partner, and work closely with members of the community in order to achieve a high level of community satisfaction and agency success
• Examine the tangible means by which to build or improve the relationship between their law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve
• Define collaborative partnerships utilized in community policing
• Examine the importance of developing and maintaining long-term positive relationships with the community
• Identify examples of effective collaborative partnerships
• Define the organizational transformation component of community policing
• Demonstrate relevance of organizational transformation to building partnerships and practicing problem solving
• Examine organizational transformation in terms of culture, structures, and function
• Consider the value of leadership and training as a catalyst for organizational transformation
• Define the problem solving component of community policing
• Explore Problem-Oriented Policing and its role in effective problem solving
• Consider the problem solving processes and methodologies of the SARA model
• Consider the role of the Crime Triangle (Problem Analysis Triangle) as a complementary tool to the SARA model

Target Audience: Law enforcement, public safety professionals, community leaders, business owners, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI), formerly known as Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2009-RM-WXK-001 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Learning Hours: 4 hours including the pre-test and post-test. 

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Course Overview: Community Policing: Improving Police Efficacy and Building Trust (CPIPEBT), an eLearning course, enhances learners’ awareness of and skills and abilities to engage in contemporary policing strategies founded in the principles of community policing.

Since the early 1980s, the principles of community policing have been a driving force in American law enforcement. Yet for all its past success, community policing may never have been as vital to law enforcement and the well-being of our communities as it is today. Exploring how emerging issues are necessitating a commitment to the key components of community policing, this course focuses on partnerships, organizational transformation, and problem solving.

The course examines the current state of policing—both locally and nationally—addressing a multitude of factors that challenge the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and the well-being of the communities they serve. CPIPEBT urges learners to explore the principles and practices of community policing as a means of achieving the public safety mission with greater efficiency by gaining and maintaining public trust and engaging the community in the shared responsibility of effective policing.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify current and emerging challenges in policing
• Review the principles of community policing
• Identify current policing paradigms
• Explain the historical evolution of community policing
• Explain the community policing principles of partnerships, problem solving, and organizational transformation
• Identify current and emerging obstacles to implementing positive initiatives that promote effective policing
• Apply strategies for sustaining improvements to the challenges of policing in effort to view each as an opportunity for change
• Identify the principles of community policing as actionable and vital practices for keeping effective change in place
• Apply the principles of community policing to the improvement of public safety at the community level

Target Audience: Law enforcement practitioners, criminal justice and public safety professionals, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI), formerly known as Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2014-CK-WXK-027 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

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Providing an overview of the dramatic shifts and challenges faced by law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, the course also offers problem-solving tools, examples of successful police and community partnerships, and numerous community-policing resources.

New Perspectives on Community Policing, a flexible, interactive, and relevant course, provides an outstanding opportunity for learners to gain new insights on community policing and its role in today's complex world.

Learning Objectives:

• Define new and emerging communities
• Identify community dynamics and structures related to new and emerging communities
• Explain the implications that new and emerging communities have on policing
• Define new and emerging organizational challenges facing law enforcement agencies
• Identify the implications that organizational change may have on law enforcement agency functions and capacities
• Identify strategies and philosophies that may simultaneously promote successful organizational transformation and the practice of community oriented policing
• Identify several emerging issues which impact community policing
• Explain non-traditional threats to the community through examples of crimes and disorder
• Explain the importance of community partnerships and problem solving elements of the Community Policing Principles as they pertain to issues and threats
• Identify the fundamentals of community policing and how they apply to change management
• Identify the role of perspective in proactive problem solving
• Apply R.O.A.R. to the module’s interactive exercise

Target Audience: Law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed in joint partnership between the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI), formerly known as Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, and the Western Community Policing Institute (WCPI) and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2008-CK-WXK-003 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Learning Hours: 4 hours including the pre-test and post-test.

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Course Overview: 

Pathways to Resiliency: Community Policing and Countering Violent Extremism, an eLearning course, highlights community-based efforts to address the threat of violent extremism and targeted violence through partnerships, problem solving, and community policing strategies. Recognizing that violent extremism and targeted violence are continuous sources of concern for our nation’s communities and the public safety agencies that protect them, this course offers insights, guidance, and case studies that are relevant as well as time-tested.

Drawing on unique approaches from across the nation, this course features video case studies of agencies and organizations that have effectively used community policing strategies in innovative and proactive ways. From the cityscapes of Los Angeles and Denver to the historic streets of Lewiston, Maine and the thriving campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, the course looks at examples of communities that have taken practical steps on the pathway to countering the threat of violent extremism and building resiliency through community policing.

Pathways to Resiliency: Community Policing and Countering Violent Extremism complements the time-tested case studies with resource links that allow learners to quickly access the latest and most relevant information from organizations such as the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Additionally, links to the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and other resources offer the latest guidance on law enforcement best practices and effective community policing. This course benefits all local, state, and tribal law enforcement personnel and stakeholders concerned with public safety and community resilience.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize community policing as an aspect of community-based efforts to counter the threat of violent extremism
• Acquire a basic understanding of violent extremism
• Acquire a basic understanding of mobilization to violence
• Recognize dynamics underlying violent extremism such as youth susceptibility and social media
• Consider the role of community policing in building resiliency to violent extremism
• Recognize community policing practices exemplified in the Denver case study as examples of community-based efforts to counter the threat of violent extremism
• Recognize community policing practices exemplified in the Los Angeles case study as examples of community-based efforts to counter the threat of violent extremism
• Recognize community policing practices exemplified in the Lewiston case study as aspect of community-based efforts to counter the threat of violent extremism
• Recognize community policing practices exemplified in the VCU case study as examples of community-based efforts to counter the threat of violent extremism
• Explore each case study’s initiatives related to countering violent extremism
• Explore each case study’s key partnerships necessary for building community resiliency
• Explore each case study’s youth engagement strategies
• Consider the applicability of strategies examined in each module’s content to own community or jurisdiction

Target Audience: 

Cooperative Partners: 

Learning Hours: 

4 hours including the pre-test and post-test.

Course Overview: Problem-Oriented Policing: The SARA Model, an eLearning course, provides learners with a basic awareness and understanding of the fundamental principles of a common approach used by many community policing agencies to identify and solve repeat crime and community problems. The SARA model allows agencies to scan through multiple data sources, conduct a thorough analysis of a problem through the lens of the crime triangle, formulate a response, and continuously assess the impact of the response to the problem.

Describing the four steps of the SARA model (scanning, analysis, response, and assessment) in sequence, the modules also help learners identify when to move from one phase to the next. Correctly identifying the real problem in a community is a critical step in making a lasting impact on neighborhood crime and disorder. Learners explore the importance of assessment, types of evaluations, and nontraditional measures for determining effectiveness. Finally, the course outlines considerations for implementing Problem-Oriented Policing within an agency.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate between the terms Problem Solving and Problem-Oriented Policing
• Identify the goal of Problem-Oriented Policing
• Describe the four steps of the SARA model
• Differentiate between incidents and problems
• Describe the variety of sources from which a problem could be identified
• Identify factors that assist with prioritizing and selecting crime problems to solve
• Explain the importance of stakeholders in the problem-solving process
• Explain the importance of the analysis step of the SARA model
• Explain the importance of third parties in relation to the crime triangle
• Identify resources to assist with solving problems
• Explain the factors that indicate the need to move from the analysis phase to the response phase of SARA model
• Identify the four different parts, in sequence, of the response phase of the SARA model
• Describe the variety of factors that are considered prior to planning or implementing a response
• Describe the importance of timetables and action plans in the response phase
• Identify ways of debriefing during and after the implementation of a response
• Describe the role of assessment in the context of the SARA model and the problem-solving process
• Consider the implementation of Problem-Oriented Policing in their own agency

Target Audience: Law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI), formerly known as Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-001 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Learning Hours: 4 hours including the pre-test and post-test.

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NOTE: This is a free resource, NOT an eLearning course. There is no pretest or posttest, and you will not receive a certificate of completion for reviewing this resource.

Resource Overview: Evaluation of the Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST) Program, an interactive publication, provides a summary of an evaluation that was conducted on the Salt Lake City (Utah) Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST) program. The report, which evaluates the three primary components of the HOST program—donations to homeless service providers, the homeless support group, and collaborative street outreach, is a valuable resource for anyone interested in homeless outreach efforts.

The Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST) program was developed to bring Salt Lake City (Utah) police and community outreach workers together to identify homeless individuals and connect them to community resources. The objectives were to encourage police to make referrals to services rather than issue citations and to decrease panhandling by encouraging the public to give money to homeless service providers instead.

In 2012, the Salt Lake City Police Department received an award from the COPS Office to expand the HOST program to fund a public awareness campaign, coordinate strategic planning efforts, and train homeless individuals to assist with outreach efforts. Salt Lake City contracted with the Utah Criminal Justice Center to examine the impact of the award on the program's services and personnel. This report evaluates three primary components of the program: donations to homeless service providers, the homeless support group, and collaborative street outreach.

Target Audience: All community stakeholders interested in homeless outreach efforts

Authors: Erin B. Worwood, MCJ; Jessica Seawright, BSW; Robert P. Butters, PhD

Original Publication: October 5, 2016

Cooperative Partners: This interactive report is based on the 2016 written publication of the same name, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). This online version was developed by the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation (VCPI) and was supported by cooperative agreement 2018-CK-WXK-001 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

NOTE: This is a free resource, NOT an eLearning course. There is no pretest or posttest, and you will not receive a certificate of completion for reviewing this resource.

Resource Overview:

Recently, a growing number of agencies have explored the use of drones as a promising new practice. To help guide public safety agencies through the process of establishing and implementing successful drone programs, the US Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services has partnered with the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation (VCPI) to create and make available the Implementing a Public Safety Drone Program: Instructor-led Training Support Package (Drone ILTSP).

Developed as a comprehensive training resource for in-person instruction, Drone ILT provides direct access to instructional materials addressing drone program implementation in a public safety setting. Specifically, the Drone ILTSP includes downloadable versions of the following:

• Instructor Guide complete with a researched and cited instructional script
• Participant Guide that includes notes, exercises, and activity pages
• Pre- and post-course assessment and corresponding answer key
• Course media (case study videos) in standard, closed captioned (CC), and audio-description (AD) versions

Appropriate for delivery as an 8-hour, in-person training or segmented modular training, the Drone ILTSP course includes an examination of current credentialing requirements, the evolving nature of drone technology and associated regulations, as well as guidance for determining the scope of resources needed for successful implementation. All materials are designed to be fully accessible (508 compliant) and focus on engaging participants through carefully crafted discussions, activities, and case studies that encourage participants to learn from the experiences and insights shared by featured practitioners on the ways they use drone programs to support and enhance their service to the community.

Target Audience: Public safety agencies interested in implementing a drone program, police agencies, sheriff’s departments, fire and rescue services, and other public safety stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This project was developed by the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation (VCPI) and was supported by cooperative agreement 2020-CK-WXK-050 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

NOTE: This is a free resource, NOT an eLearning course. There is no pretest or posttest, and you will not receive a certificate of completion for reviewing this resource.

Resource Overview: Procedural Justice: Roll Call Training for Law Enforcement, a 5-part video series and accompanying Presenter’s Guide, was developed to reinforce internal and external procedural justice concepts. The series engages learners in the following concepts: Police Legitimacy and the Community Bank Account, Building Police Legitimacy in the Eyes of the Community, Dangerous Foot Pursuit: Officer Safety, Community Complaint: Demonstrating Respect, and Day Off Request: Internal Policy Implementation.

This roll call series should – over a period of time – reinforce the broader awareness of procedural justice and its core principles and affirm the importance of utilizing procedural justice as a means of increasing police legitimacy with the public as well as organizational legitimacy with employees. The videos reinforce how enhancing the public’s perception of police legitimacy increases voluntary community compliance and community support, which may as a result, improve officer and community safety. While impactful, the roll call training should not be a substitute for in-depth internal or external, front-line, supervisor, executive level, civilian staff or community procedural justice training.

Each scenario/video in the series may be accessed via the COPS Training Portal in two ways: played directly through your logged-in COPS Training Portal user account, and/or downloaded, saved and played offline, directly from your device. Each scenario is meant to be used in a separate roll call training; each roll call training is designed to be approximately 20 minutes in duration. The material is relevant to sworn law enforcement personnel at all organizational levels and could be creatively used as prompts for community dialogues.

Target Audience: Sworn law enforcement personnel at all organizational levels and front-line officers who have participated in procedural justice training; preferably the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services approved Procedural Justice for Law Enforcement: Organizational Change through Decision Making and Policy and Procedural Justice for Law Enforcement Front-line Officers.

Cooperative Partners: This 5-part video series was developed by the Center for Public Safety and Justice (CPSJ) at the University of Illinois - Chicago and was supported by cooperative agreement 2012-CK-WXK-005 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

NOTE: This is a free resource, NOT an eLearning course. There is no pretest or posttest, and you will not receive a certificate of completion for reviewing this resource.

Resource Overview: Salt Lake City Police Department, Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST) Program Overview, an interactive publication, provides a summary of the three primary components of the HOST program--donations to homeless service providers, the homeless support group, and collaborative street outreach. Designed with the purpose of sharing program information and materials to help create a better model to end homelessness across the nation, this publication serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in homeless outreach efforts.

The Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST) program was originally developed to bring Salt Lake City (Utah) police officers and community outreach workers together to identify homeless individuals who panhandle or engage in other types of public nuisance activities in the city and connect them to community resources. The main objectives were to encourage police to make referrals to services rather than issue citations and to decrease the prevalence of panhandling by encouraging the public to give money to service providers rather than directly to panhandlers.

In 2012, the Salt Lake City Police Department expanded the program to include a public awareness campaign, coordinate strategic planning efforts, and recruit and train formerly homeless individuals as volunteers to assist with outreach efforts. 

Target Audience: The intended audience for this interactive publication is anyone interested in homeless outreach efforts

Original Publication: October 5, 2016

Cooperative Partners: This interactive report is based on the 2016 written publication of the same name, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). This online version was developed by the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation (VCPI) and was supported by cooperative agreement number 2018-CK-WXK-001 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).