November is National Native American Heritage Month, a time set aside for recognition of the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States.

This November, IACP and the COPS Office are pleased to announce the release of Promising Practices in Tribal Community Policing, a new publication that highlights the character, professionalism, and spirit of service of law enforcement in tribal communities.

Community policing is not a program or activity in Indian Country; rather, it is a guiding philosophy and way of life. This publication seeks to inform tribal law enforcement leaders and their state, local, and federal partners about effective community policing strategies that address public safety issues in ways that reflect the traditional and current values of the tribes they serve.

Being small and self-governed, tribes are well positioned to engage tribal members in helping to identify and solve safety problems in the community. Tribal law enforcement has the ability to be nimble and, with the support of the tribal government, test new and innovative justice ideas. This publication includes guidance on enhancing and sustaining community policing programs, and it explores law enforcement strategies in the following areas of community policing:

• Partnerships within tribes and with external stakeholders
• Crime-focused partnerships
• Training partnerships
• Information-sharing partnerships
• Court partnerships
• Incorporation of tribal culture and tradition
• Youth outreach programs

For information about the project, visit the IACP website or contact Jennifer Styles at [email protected] or 1-800-THE-IACP, ext 804.

To learn more about IACP’s other work with tribal law enforcement, visit the IACP's Indian Country Law Enforcement Section webpage.