California Partnership for Safe Communities because we’re
convinced that just training alone is not enough. Working
together, we’re developing an ongoing and comprehensive
training policy, and are incorporating the principles into
our crime fighting tactics and strategies, in our policies and
procedures, and into our performance management and
crime analysis functions. We’re also working on local criminal justice system changes, overall service delivery models,
and specific crime-fighting strategies. Additionally, we are
acknowledging and coming to terms with the historical
perspectives minority groups and immigrant communities
have on policing.
Two over-used terms in law enforcement are “transparency” and “culture change.” Both are important, but they
are the end of something and not the beginning. Transparency comes after an organization has been consistent
and forthcoming with information, and after openness to
change has been developed. Culture change comes after an
organizational transformation.
Principled policing is helping Stockton PD reshape crime fighting.
decision making, respectful treatment, and trustworthiness.
It is not just about being polite, and this training goes far
beyond customer service and cultural sensitivity trainings;
it takes issues like race relations head-on and discusses
how we can all combat cynicism – all without coming off as
corrective or judgmental.
Looking Forward:
The Stockton Police Department’s Principled Policing
philosophy and strategies have led to the co-chairing of a
training committee on these topics for the State Attorney
General, and to Stockton’s selection as one of six pilot sites
for the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Initiative
for Building Community Trust and Justice, working with
researchers from Yale University, Stanford University,
U.C.L.A., and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This
research examines best practices in law enforcement and
what we can learn from each other. It is being committed
to evaluating research and making changes as needed to
support a continual path for excellence.
What is Principled Policing?
• Safeguarding the Community
• Living Our Oath
• Respecting & Protecting Rights
• The Badge as a Symbol of Public Faith
• Reducing Crime while Increasing Trust ■
An example of Principled Policing in action is the
evidence-based violent crime reduction strategy known
as Ceasefire, which incorporates community involvement
and increases their trust in the police. Ceasefire does not
rely upon blanket enforcement of an entire neighborhood.
Instead, it uses strategic and data-driven enforcement and respectful communication directed at those
most prone to committing or being
the victim of violent crime.
We’re also using Principled
Policing to transform our code enforcement work into a working partnership with neighborhood leaders
and residents aimed at community
revitalization. As an organization,
we’re engaging in community
surveys, public forums, Courageous
Conversation sessions led by the
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and
Community Advisory Board, and
shows the way.”
- John C. Maxwell
police chief listening tours that take
place in living rooms across the city.
Principled Policing is not the same as
Customer Service.
At SPD, the Principled Policing
training has been very popular with
our officers, reminding them why
they swore their oath and helping them with wellness and stress
issues. Early on, the Stockton and
Oakland Police Departments partnered to train all personnel in this
curriculum which has four tenets:
giving others a voice, neutrality in
You serve others and LCW is honored to serve you.
Proudly representing California’s law enforcement agencies
for over 35 years in all areas of:
Employment Law, POBR, Litigation, Labor Relations,
Negotiations, Discipline, Investigations,
Pitchess Motions, and Preventative Training.
To learn how we can help your department visit: www.lcwlegal.com
SPRING 2016 | California Police Chief
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