State Agency To Partner with Community Policing for National Premier Community Policing Professional Program

Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) Executive Director, Mike Cunegin today announced that ICJI will partner with the Indiana Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) to develop, implement and deliver a national Community Policing Professional (CPP) program.

A 500,000 federal grant was awarded to the RCPI from the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ). ICJI will serve as the fiscal agent and will administer the grant to enhance the professional development of law enforcement trainers. The RCPI will use the federal grant over an 18-month period to deploy key components of the training.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the Indiana RCPI. I am especially excited that ICJI will maintain a key role in shaping this invaluable pilot program," said Cunegin. "Our relationship with the RCPI will ultimately benefit the state of Indiana through its CPP program by giving law enforcement professionals the tools they need to solve complex problems and achieve measurable outcomes."

Based upon proven best practices in the industry, the CPP sets an independent industry- wide standard for law enforcement instructors and creates a foundation for information sharing between academies and trainees. This training will be the first of its kind in the nation and is the most distinguished and valued credential a professional can obtain in law enforcement.

"Throughout the country, community policing has become law enforcement's preferred approach for fighting crime, and we are confident that this collaboration between the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the Indiana Regional Community Policing Institute will go a long way toward enhancing the level of community policing that law enforcement agencies provide for the communities that they protect and serve," said Carl R. Peed, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) director.

Due to an increased demand of highly experienced law enforcement instructors nationwide, the RCPI is charged with providing training/educational law enforcement strategies and technical assistance to law enforcement and community agencies. This training is designed to enhance the quality of life for citizens on both the state and national levels.

"Based upon ICJI's proven track record of implementing federal law enforcement programs, a business decision was made by RCPI to select ICJI as a key law enforcement training partner as well as the RCPI's Fiscal Agent to administer this grant," said Wil Smith, regional director, Indiana RCPI. "ICJI will provide the Indiana RCPI with greater connection and exposure to various law enforcement agencies throughout Indiana and the nation."

The Indiana RCPI has developed a solid working relationship with Indiana law enforcement agencies, including the Indiana FBI, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney's Office; Southern District, Indiana State Police and the Indiana law Enforcement training academy to ensure that CPP is a sound, comprehensive program with the capacity to yield positive results.

Once the CPP project model is in place, the Indiana RCPI will use it to offer pilot sessions to 10,000 - 20,000 key law enforcement professional trainers nationwide.