The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has announced an Organizational Assessment of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP). This initiative is part of the Collaborative Reform Initiative, a voluntary program aimed at helping law enforcement agencies improve their operations.
Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer expressed support for NRP's participation, stating, “I applaud the Maryland Natural Resources Police for voluntarily taking on the work of applying these tenets to its operation.”
Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office emphasized the importance of self-assessment in law enforcement agencies: “Every law enforcement agency can benefit by taking an in-depth look at the work of its department and seeing what’s working and where there are opportunities for improvement.”
Over the next year, NRP will collaborate with the COPS Office team to address areas such as community policing, workforce development, strategic planning, employee wellness, and technology. Updates on this partnership will be available online to ensure transparency.
The Collaborative Reform Initiative offers three programs: Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment. These programs aim to enhance trust between law enforcement and communities, improve operational efficiency, ensure officer safety and wellness, foster organizational learning, and promote community policing practices.
The Organizational Assessment provides comprehensive technical assistance through detailed evaluations to enhance fairness and effectiveness within agencies. The process includes routine public reporting and community input to maintain accountability.
Established in 1994 as part of the Justice Department's efforts to advance community policing nationwide, the COPS Office supports law enforcement with resources needed to build trust with communities while combating crime. It has distributed over $20 billion in grants to more than 13,000 agencies across various jurisdictions.