Pathways to Resiliency: Community Policing and Countering Violent Extremism

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: 

Law enforcement officials and other public safety practitioners with an interest in applying the philosophy of community policing in the context of improving community resiliency to violent extremism and similar targeted violence.

Cooperative Partners: 

Learning Hours: 

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