"Community policing is central to the success of the police mission."

                                                                                             -IACP President Craig T. Steckler

Every year dating back to 1998,the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Community Policing Committee has recognized and awarded the best community policing practices of agencies around the world with the Community Policing Award from IACP and Cisco.

Entries are awarded in five population categories and judged on innovative ideas that utilize the power of community policing in order to ultimately make our communities safer. And the agencies seem to raise the bar every year with best-in-class initiatives that give a whole new meaning to the concept of protect and serve.

The 2013 winners and finalists, honored last week during the IACP Conference, were no different in raising that bar even higher, and they are now officially among those leading the way through community oriented policing and the implementation of innovative strategies. As Todd A. Miller, Mankato, MN director of public safety and chairperson of the Community Policing Committee explains,"The philosophy of community policing is more relevant and necessary today than ever before, and the agencies selected this year demonstrate the importance of the community oriented policing philosophy in solving problems and enhancing service."

And this leads me to this year's awards.

The 2013 IACP Community Policing Award winners and finalists are...

 

Winners:
Mankato, MN, Department of Public Safety (Population of 20,001 to 50,000 residents)
Abington Township, PA, Police Department (Population of 50,001 to 100,000 residents)
Boise, ID, Police Department (Population of 100,001 to 250,000 residents)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Police Service (Population of 250,000+ residents)

Finalists:
Vail, CO, Police Department (Population fewer than 20,000)
Population of 20,001 to 50,000 (2 finalists):
Madison City, AL, Police Department
St. Louis Park ,MN, Police Department
City of Duluth, MN, Police Department (Population of 50,001 to 100,000 residents)
Population of 100,001 to 250,000 (2 finalists):
Grand Prairie, TX, Police Department
Dayton, OH, Police Department
Hong Kong Police (Project New Dawn) (Population of more than 250,001)

Special Recognition
Homeland Security: Colorado State Patrol

To learn the specifics around the amazing and innovative initiatives implemented by each of the winners and finalists, check out our 2013 IACP Community Policing Awards brochure, which summarizes the submissions and provides a best practices framework agencies can use to solve community issues.

Special congratulations to all of the 2013 winners and  finalists and a big thank you to all the agencies that submitted entries for leading the community policing innovation charge and making our cities and communities safer! As Bob Stanberry, senior law enforcement advisor and solution business development manager for Cisco, stated,"Cisco is honored to support agencies throughout the world that helpeducate, serve and protectour communities utilizing community policing as their philosophy." 

Is your agency ready to submit an entry for the 2014 IACP Community Policing Awards? Visit the IACP Community Policing website for more information.

For more information on solutions for public safety and community policing, check out our State & Local Government Survival Guide and our new IoT enabled solutions for public safety that provide for improved capabilities to support collaboration, interoperability and increased intelligence.

Stay tuned to the Cisco Government Blog site for the next installment of the public safety blog series!