Building
Trust with Communities
Modules Guide
For use with the Building Trust with Communities Website
[Link]
Developed by
The Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, George Mason University
& The Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy
Introduction to this Guide
This guide presents direction on navigating the “Awareness”, “Education and Training” and
“Action and Leadership” modules of the Building Trust with Communities Web Resource from
the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy ([Link]
policing/building-trust/). The purpose of this guide is to provide step-by-step direction for
navigating each module, with follow-up questions and ideas to facilitate discussion. The total
amount of time needed to complete this program is 5 hours (1.5 hours for “Awareness”, 2
hours for “Education and Training” and 1.5 hours for “Action and Leadership”).
We encourage agencies, units, and academy or in-service classes to work through each of the
three modules in a positive and encouraging learning environment. The objective of these
modules is to challenge currently held beliefs and attitudes, increase critical thinking and
learning, and develop both knowledge and empathy about the relationship between police and
citizens, and in particular, between police and communities of color.
Specifically, the objectives of these modules include:
• To consider our beliefs and reasons for those beliefs about communities and their
relationship with the police.
• To understand differences between perceptions and facts, and why both are important
to building trust and confidence.
• To consider how community members view the police and what shapes their
perceptions.
• To consider possible benefits in re-thinking your agency’s approach to engaging with
your community.
• To critically assess where your agency might need improvement, and how members of
the community might be involved in helping the police department advance its mission.
Thank you for your interest in this resource. Please feel free to contact our team with your
comments and suggestions:
Drs. Cynthia Lum and Christopher Koper
Principal Investigators of the Matrix Demonstration Projects
The Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy
Department of Criminology, Law and Society
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MS 6D12
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-993-3421 | clum@[Link]
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1. Awareness Module Guide
This guide presents direction on navigating the “Awareness” page of the Building Trust with
Communities Web Resource. For each video block on the webpage, we provide ideas for
possible questions in which to use for discussion and learning. Feel free to modify to the needs
of your agency. The approximate time to complete this module is 1.5 hours.
Step 1: Watch Director Comey’s Video
1. Why do you think it is difficult for the law enforcement community to talk about the
relationship between policing and communities of color?
2. What are some reasons why communities and police officers hold stereotypes and
prejudices with each other?
3. Do you agree/disagree with Comey that officer mentality towards different types of
people (race, gender, orientation, etc.) changes as an officer moves through his/her
career? How might an officer’s perceptions change, and what might be some reasons
for those changes?
Step 2: Watch “A Conversation with My Black Son”
1. What were your initial reactions to this video? Can anyone within the group relate to
this video (have they had these types of conversations about the police with their
children)?
2. Race and policing can be a very polarizing topic. How can such a controversial
conversation area be approached within the law enforcement community?
3. What tangible strategies can law enforcement agencies take to change the way
communities view the police generally, or how specific communities may view officers?
Step 3: Examine the evidence in “Research Findings: The Perception Gap.”
There are substantial differences in the confidence that blacks and whites have in their local
police forces. For instance, whites are twice as likely as blacks to express at least a fair amount
of confidence in police officers in their communities to treat blacks and whites equally (72% of
whites vs. 36% of blacks) (Pew Research Group). Furthermore, according to the 2014 Gallup
poll, black Americans have significantly lower levels of confidence in the police as an institution,
and lower assessments of the honesty and ethics of police officers specifically.
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1. Do you think these perceptions reflect reality? In what way?
2. For those officers attending in-service training: Have officers anonymously jot down on
a piece of paper what characteristics they look for when stopping vehicles or
pedestrians. Encourage them to be as honest as possible. Collect and read aloud.
Encourage a discussion about whether they feel some of these characteristics are
connected with race or ethnicity. (This exercise can be connected to implicit bias
exercises).
Step 4: Listen to the podcast within “Police Officer Perspectives” and watch the video
“Why Words Matter”
1. As you listen to these podcasts, write down what you think may work to build trust with
the community.
2. Can you recall any specific contacts you have made with a member of the community
that may have improved or worsened that individual’s view of the police?
3. How do you think the community members you interact with on a day-to-day basis feel
about the police? What is the basis for your answer?
4. Do you actively seek opportunities, small and large, to help build positive perceptions
and trust with community members? What possible actions can we take every day as
law enforcement officials that sends a positive message to the community and support
trust building?
5. Can you think of examples of how words, either used by officers to each other or by
officers to members of the community, can lead to an unprofessional working
environment and poor relationships?
6. What is your response to the idea that comments in the past that were once brushed off
as “tasteless” are now considered inappropriate and offensive? How important is it for
law enforcement agencies to keep up with this knowledge?
This is the end of module 1. Proceed to module 2: Education and Training.
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2. Education & Training Module
Guide
This guide presents direction on navigating the “Education & Training” page of the Building
Trust with Communities Web Resource and questions to use after watching the videos or using
the content to help with group discussions. Feel free to modify to the needs of your agency.
The approximate time to complete this module is 2 hours.
Step 1: Watch the “Fair and Impartial Police Training” video and take the Implicit Bias and
Weapons Bias tests provided by Project Implicit. Then answer the questions below.
1. After watching Dr. Fridell’s video, take the Implicit Bias and Weapons Bias tests,
provided by Project Implicit at Harvard University:
[Link]
2. What is implicit bias and what might be the consequences of implicit bias for daily police
activities?
3. Professor Fridell provides an example of how implicit bias can create dangerous
situations for officers. Can you think of other examples that could lead to problematic
situations when such biases are present?
4. What are your initial reactions to the results of your implicit bias test? Do you think this
is something all officers should take (and why/why not)? How about community
members?
5. How can your agency assess whether implicit bias negatively impacts your policies and
practices, and what are some tangible solutions to reduce the negative effects of
implicit bias in your organization?
Step 2: Watch Professor Joseph Williams’ two-part series: Part I “Stereotypes and Biases” and
Part II: “Evidence-Based Strategies to Overcoming Stereotypes”. Then answer the questions
below.
1. Explain the difference between implicit and explicit stereotypes.
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2. If mood and emotions have an impact on how people may react to certain individuals or
situations, what do you think officers can do to overcome some of these human
tendencies?
3. Choose two of the seven strategies Professor Williams provides for identifying and
addressing implicit stereotypes that you think are most feasible for police training.
Step 3: Watch both Part I and Part II of “Intercultural Communication and Law Enforcement”
by Professor Mark Hopson and answer the questions below.
1. What are some of the perceptions that might exist about different minority
communities at your organization?
2. Choose an activity you carry out each day in which you interact with citizens. How do
you think your perceptions of people from other cultures impact this activity?
3. How can information about another person’s culture help you be a more effective
communicator and police officer?
Step 4: Watch “Procedural Justice and Police Legitimacy” and answer the questions below.
1. What does “procedural justice” mean? Describe a scenario in which a police officer has
an opportunity to improve his or her procedural justice with citizens.
2. What are some benefits for police in using procedural justice?
3. Aside from training, how can procedural justice be introduced into your unit, and how
might officers be held accountable for being more procedurally just?
Step 5: Watch “What Does Procedural Justice Mean for the Police?” and answer the
questions below.
1. Based on Captain Brown’s description of procedural justice, do you find this practiced by
your agency and officers/deputies with regularity?
2. How could procedural justice impact the trust and relationship you have with your
community?
3. Do you think that procedural justice practiced within the organization translates to
procedural justice being practiced by officers in the community? Why?
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4. If there are low levels of procedural justice within your organization, identify where and
how you can reasonably make a difference (e.g., interactions between squad members,
changes between sworn and civilian employees, communication and interactions across
ranks or units).
Step 6: Explore the additional resources provided.
1. The Case for Procedural Justice: This e-newsletter from the Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services at the Department of Justice (COPS Office) discusses the use
of fairness as a crime prevention tool. It offers strategies for implementation that can be
applied by police departments to enhance procedural justice.
2. Implementing Procedural Justice Nationwide: This video features Professor Robin Engel
of the University of Cincinnati discussing procedural justice research and how police
departments across the nation are looking to change their tactics.
3. COPS Office Toolkit: This publication provides guidance to federal, state, local, and
tribal law enforcement agencies; fusion centers; community members; civic groups; and
other interested parties on developing relationships of trust, particularly with minority
and immigrant communities. It focuses on law enforcement agencies and their
relationships with community members in relation to building community confidence,
increasing police legitimacy, addressing neighborhood problems of crime and disorder,
and improving the quality of life in all communities.
4. Information on obtaining Fair and Impartial Police Training: This link provides the
information necessary to obtain training in fair and impartial policing. The training is
provided at the recruit and patrol officer level, first-line supervisor level, mid-
management level, and command level. There is additional information on training new
trainers in fair and impartial policing.
5. "Fair and Impartial Training" by Lorie Fridell: This is a link to an article about fair and
impartial training in The Police Chief magazine.
This is the end of module 2. Proceed to module 3: Action and Leadership.
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3. Action & Leadership Module
Guide
This guide presents direction on navigating the “Action & Leadership” page of the Building Trust
with Communities Web Resource. The questions presented here might be more appropriate to
law enforcement leaders, but can be modified for training at the academy or in-service level.
Feel free to modify to the needs of your agency. The approximate time to complete this module
is 1.5 hours.
Step 1: Watch Director Bill O’Toole of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy
explain the importance of re-examining training programs to ensure they emphasize the
rebuilding of community trust. Then answer the questions below.
1. Consistent and regular training in policing is one of the most important aspects of a
professional and effective organization. In reviewing your training curricula (academy,
in-service, etc.), to what extent are some of the lessons presented in this Building Trust
with Communities’ program incorporated?
2. Are students receptive to this information, and how are they assessed with regard to
retention and accountability of this information?
3. As a leader in the law enforcement profession, what would your recommendations be
for making the current training you receive regarding building trust with the community
actionable?
Step 2: Watch both of the “Chief’s Perspectives” videos and then answer the questions
below.
These videos offer perspectives from Chief Joseph Price (Leesburg, Virginia, Police Department)
and Chief Earl Cook (Alexandria, Virginia Police Department). Chief Price discusses the
importance of re-examining use of force policies in light of recent events. Chief Cook describes
changes and improvements that he has seen over the four decades of his service as a police
officer, and what departments can do to continue to move forward to build trust with the
community.
1. In what ways has the term “leadership” changed in policing? Do police leaders,
commanders, and supervisors need different skill sets today than one, two or three
decades ago, and what are those skill sets? How is your agency fostering those skill sets
and mentoring up-and-coming leaders?
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2. What are the most important policies and internal practices that a department should
target for analysis and adjustment to strengthen the relationship it holds with the
community generally, and its citizens more specifically?
3. What internal policies, cultures, and practices inhibit your police agency and its leaders
from moving forward to establish stronger relationships with its community, and what
tangible steps might your agency take to loosen or remedy these inhibitors?
4. What is the relationship between use of force and trust within the community?
5. How do you think you might be perceived by the community if your primary mode of
operation is that of “warrior” rather than “guardian” (or vice versa)? How is your trust
within the community impacted by both these modes?
6. Discuss the recommendations by Chief Cook in building trust within communities. How
might your agency change its practices to be more aligned with his recommendations?
Step 3: Watch Captain Gregory Brown in “Supervisors/Leaders and Organizational Change”
discuss the importance of supervisors and leaders in achieving difficult changes in the police
organization to improve trust and satisfaction with the community. Then answer the question
below.
1. Leaders must engage members from all levels of the organization to achieve effective
change, and messages are diluted as they trickle down from the top. What are some
ways that leaders can involve front-line officers in organizational change to build trust
and confidence with the community?
Step 4: Explore the additional resources provided regarding “Community Engagement and
Taking Action”
1. Race and Policing: An Agenda for Action proposes policy options and discussion points
for police agencies and officers regarding race and law enforcement. The authors divide
this agenda into two parts: The first, ‘Strategic Voice’, discusses what police should
advocate regarding policy to mitigate the effects of race in law enforcement. The
second, ‘Tactical Agency’, proposes options for what the police can do on their own to
address race both within their organization and in the community at-large.
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2. Building Relationships of Trust: This COPS Office report provides sixteen recommended
steps and related action items to building collaborative, trusting relationships between
law enforcement and the communities they serve.
3. Diversity in Law Enforcement: This literature review provides a recent review of
available research regarding diversity in law enforcement. It is designed to offer a cross-
section of relevant information to be helpful and informative to the Task Force on 21st
Century Policing.
4. National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice: This initiative is designed
to improve relationships and increase trust between communities and the criminal
justice system. It provides resources, information about pilot sites, and the opportunity
to get involved with the initiative.
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