The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) announced it will conduct an Organizational Assessment of the Hackensack, New Jersey, Police Department through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. This voluntary program is available to law enforcement agencies seeking to ensure fair and effective policing.
Over the next year, the Hackensack Police Department will collaborate with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team on several key areas:
- Data-Driven Policing
- Employee Wellness, Training, and Professional Development
- Community Engagement and Problem-Solving Strategies
- Internal and External Communications
- Leadership and Organizational Structure
- Accountability and Oversight Systems
“The in-depth assessments undertaken as part of the Collaborative Reform Initiative benefit both the Hackensack Police Department and the community,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “By taking an honest look at what might need to be strengthened or reformed, agencies can continue to improve public safety and trust.”
“By examining an agency’s historical practices, their current practices, and their goals for the future, a solid plan for moving forward can be put in place,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “It is this kind of strategic thinking and planning that is critical in helping agencies meet the standards that the community has set for them.”
Regular updates on this initiative will be provided at www.cops.usdoj.gov/active-oa-site-hackensack-nj-police-department as part of transparency efforts.
The Collaborative Reform Initiative includes three programs offering expert services: Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs. These are designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and communities; improve operational efficiencies; enhance officer safety; build organizational learning capacity; and promote community policing practices nationwide.
The Organizational Assessment program offers intensive technical assistance involving in-depth assessments to improve fairness and effectiveness in agency operations. It ensures time and resources focus on identifying improvement areas while reinforcing strengths. The process provides transparency with routine public reporting and community input.
The COPS Office was established in 1994 as part of the Justice Department to advance community policing nationwide. It has been a cornerstone of crime-fighting strategy with grants, knowledge resources, training, and technical assistance. The office has received over $20 billion in appropriations to support more than 13,000 law enforcement agencies by funding approximately 138,000 officers.