THE HISTORY & LEGACY OF THE
RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT
Community Policing
In an effort to promote positive interaction within the community, the Raleigh Police Department implement community policing beginning in the 1980s. Community policing focuses on reducing crime and social disorder through the delivery of police services. This includes aspects of traditional law enforcement as well as prevention, problem-solving, community engagement, and partnerships.
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The Raleigh Police Department started its first Community Oriented Policing Enforcement (COPE) project in mid-1986 in an East Raleigh. A second COPE project was started in 1988, focusing on downtown Raleigh. More projects were implemented throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s.
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In 1994, Community Policing Assistance Substations (COMPASS) were implemented, serving the communities of Chavis Heights, Halifax Court, Heritage Park, and Walnut Terrace. A new strategic plan was developed in 2008, which included a pilot project in the Southeast District. This project created a partnership between police and residents, neighborhood associations, City departments, and other agencies to address crime and other quality-of-life issues.
Between 2010 and 2011, more community policing teams were added to the Northeast, Downtown, Northwest, North, and Southwest Districts. Today, each district has a dedicated team of community police officers who work collaboratively with residents, business owners, and other city departments.
Community Policing Coordinator/Liaison
The Community Policing Coordinator’s Office was started in December of 2008 and is assigned to the Chief’s Office. The coordinator is responsible for networking within business and residential communities to design problem-solving strategies in conjunction with police personnel and residents.
This office also functions as a researcher and evaluator of national initiatives that promote community engagement and sustainability. The office connects with stakeholders from various organizations. Working together, they assist in forming dynamic teams that focus on community needs.
The coordinator also works with internal partners to create transparent roles and responsibilities for future community engagement teams—and further bridge the gap in police and community relationships.
Community Policing Initiatives
Community policing is at the heart of our policing philosophy. Guided by evidence-based research, best-practices, and procedural justice, our community policing initiatives seek to build trust and legitimacy through open dialogue and problem-solving collaboration.
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I-CARE: Interfaith Community Ambassadors for Responsive Engagement
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“Standing as One” Event
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Citizen’s Police Academy
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Mental Health First Aid Classes
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National Night Out
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Barbershop Rap Sessions
Project HOME
A pilot program called Project HOME (Healthy Occupancy through Mutual Engagement) began in 2018. The year-long program saw four officers and two sergeants actively spending time in parking lots, playgrounds, and many outside areas to interact and engage with residents across the various communities of Raleigh. Four locations in the city volunteered to participate: The Oaks, The Falls, Hawthorne Apartments, and The Pointe at Midtown.
Throughout their time in these locations, personnel engaged with residents in ways which resulted in many pick-up basketball games, pop-up soccer games, and even lessons on fighting and catching crawfish. Officers learned about different cultures and customs, and several of them joined barbeques with residents.
The pilot program of Project HOME not only improved the quality of life for the multi-family residential structures, but also educated the police department on different measures for keeping a vibrant lifestyle for our entire community.
College Internship Program
Since 2011, The Raleigh Police Department has partnered with local colleges and universities to offer seniors and graduate students an opportunity to work alongside our sworn and civilian professionals and gain experience and knowledge about our 21st century progressive law enforcement agency. The Raleigh Police Department Internship Program is held for three sessions each year: spring, summer, and fall.
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“Just because something has always been done one way doesn’t mean that’s the way it should always be done. We get to decide the path going forward. We have to determine collectively how we respect each other, how we learn from each other and, at times, how we embrace each other.”
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- CHIEF DECK-BROWN
