Over the next several weeks, the International Association of Chiefs of Police will recognize the 2018 IACP Leadership Award Winners, who have made meaningful contributions to both their communities, and law enforcement as a whole. Their achievements are representative of the incredible leadership displayed by police organizations across the globe.

This week will focus on National Security and Transnational Crime. These awards recognize organizations that have implemented best practices of collaboration and communication to secure their nation’s borders from criminal activity through the development of innovative approaches to prevention, investigation, and successful intelligence sharing.

IACP/Booz Allen Hamilton Leadership in the Prevention of Terrorism Award

The IACP/Booz Allen Hamilton Leadership in the Prevention of Terrorism Award recognizes agencies that have demonstrated overall success in averting, stopping, or countering terrorist activity. It is meant to highlight successful counterterrorism investigations and educate the law enforcement field on instances reflective of collaboration and communication best practices during terrorism investigations. Learn More about Booz Allen Hamilton.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, Police Department
The Minneapolis Police Department collaborated with the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL) in developing and implementing a terrorism awareness and training program for Super Bowl LII. In preparation for the event, the Minneapolis Police Department and CELL developed a prevention and preparedness training titled “Community Awareness Program (CAP): Champions for Safety,” which taught individuals how to recognize and report suspicious activity specific to Super Bowl LII. In addition, they produced the training video “Champions for Safety,” narrated by two Boston Marathon bombing survivors. More than 16,000 city employees, private-sector employees, volunteers, vendors, and other personnel were trained and served as a force multiplier for the more than 3,000 public safety officers who worked Super Bowl events. Super Bowl LII and related events took place without any acts of terrorism or significant crimes, thanks to Minneapolis Police Department’s preparation and dedication.

IACP Leadership in Homeland Security Award

The IACP Leadership in Homeland Security Award honors excellence and significant contributions to overcoming homeland security challenges. This award recognizes single agencies and multi-agency collaborative efforts that demonstrate significant contributions to information sharing and analytical work in the homeland security enterprise, and/or sound decision making during the preparation and execution of critical incident response, mitigation and recovery efforts resulting from acts of terrorism, and extremism in addition to natural or man-made calamity.

Border Enforcement Security Task Force, Brownsville, Texas
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), Brownsville, is a collaboration designed to enhance border security along a 112-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. This area contains critical energy infrastructure, commercial fishing, and cargo infrastructure, and is an area frequently targeted by transnational criminal organizations trying to exploit the South Texas border for illicit purposes. Results have included the seizure of illegal drugs, profits, and vehicles. BEST serves as an investigative best practice, demonstrating a comprehensive regional response to the growing threats facing homeland security. The task force is comprised of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Coast Guard; Texas Parks and Wildlife-Marine Tactical Operations Group; South Padre Island Police Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air Marine Operations; Port Isabel Police Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations; and Cameron County Sheriff’s Office.

IACP Leadership in Transnational Crime Award

The IACP Leadership in Transnational Crime Award recognizes outstanding efforts by law enforcement agencies in successfully mitigating the international threats to their communities by transnational criminal organizations. Exemplary programs will demonstrate innovative approaches to investigating and preventing transnational crime, as well as successful information and intelligence sharing practices.

U.S. Department of Justice, District of North Dakota
Operation Deadly Merchant, a multi-national investigation supported and coordinated by the multi-agency Special Operations Division of the U.S. Department of Justice began with one overdose death in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Led by the U.S Attorney for the District of North Dakota, the collaborative investigation has resulted in the indictment of more than 30 individuals in the United States, Canada, and China. Members of the Jian Zhang transnational criminal organization, based in China, have been identified and charged with running a criminal enterprise and the overdose deaths of multiple individuals in the United States through their distribution of dangerous synthetic opioids, including fentanyl. Operation Deadly Merchant demonstrates how effective state, federal, and international level partners working toward the single goal of identifying and holding accountable those responsible for their criminal conduct can succeed.