Community Safety Partnership Bureau Recognized by International Association of Chiefs of Police for Leadership in Community Policing NR25219jc

Los Angeles: Chief Jim McDonnell and representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department Community Safety Partnership Bureau (CSPB) attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in Denver on October 21, 2025 to accept the IACP Leadership in Community Policing Award. The award honors agencies for programs that exemplify the principles of community policing and strengthen community trust through active and inclusive community collaboration. Highlighting the efforts of CSP officers, who have worked since 2012 to build trusting relationships with members of the Watts community, Los Angeles Police Department joins a prestigious list of past winners from around the globe.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated, “We are so proud to see Community Safety Partnership Bureau recognized with this highly-competitive award for the great work that has been done for a long period of time, changed so many lives, and made so many people much better off than they otherwise would have been, in so many different ways. The LAPD stood tall tonight and humbly accepted this award. I’m so thankful for our officers who are out there day in and day out doing the work that keeps everybody safe.”

Following the civil unrest of 2020, independently-conducted community surveys identified five critical areas of focus: Youth Programming and Sports, Victim and Community Advocacy, Career Development and Trades, Educational Advancement, and Community Wellness and Mental Health. In response, CSP officers facilitated the collaboration of 30 key-Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to form the Los Angeles Resource Coalition (LA-CRC). The LACRC rapidly expanded the accessibility of resources and encourages on-going communication between police and the community.

To measure effectiveness and reach, a unique approach to household assessment protocol was established. This has allowed not only the client to benefit from primary services but aids the provision of multiple wrap-around services within the same home. The system reduces reliance on government services and creates more self-sufficient and interconnected support networks. The addition of a referral system has enabled officers to seamlessly connect community members with relevant service providers.

Since its inception two years ago, the LA-CRC has benefitted hundreds of community members. CBOs have assisted each other with securing grant funding, developing relationships with philanthropists, cross-referencing clients, and creating opportunities for the community.

While crime rates have decreased dramatically in Watts since the establishment of CSP, the true gauge of effectiveness lies in public trust toward government entities and the perception of public safety. The initiatives and innovative approaches created by CSP officers have revolutionized the delivery of policing services to the community and as a direct result public trust has notably increased.

The annual IACP Conference hosts over 16,000 public safety professionals for four days of education and networking. With more than 35,000 members in over 170 countries, the IACP is a recognized leader in global policing, committed to advancing safer communities through thoughtful, progressive police leadership. Since 1893, the association has been serving communities by speaking out on behalf of law enforcement and advancing leadership and professionalism in policing worldwide.