NCJ Number
197204
Date Published
2000
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This booklet, a production of "Operation Cooperation," is designed to help law enforcement and security professionals develop cooperative relationships and programs.
Abstract
Operation Cooperation is a major national initiative to encourage partnerships between law enforcement and private security professionals. In providing an overview of public-private cooperation, this booklet discusses who should cooperate and why. A review of types of programs explains the forms being used to organize cooperative programs, as well as the specific objectives and tasks of such programs. Some tasks of collaborative programs are networking, information sharing, crime prevention, resource sharing, training, legislation, operations, and research and guidelines. Identification of the elements of program success focuses on leadership, facilitator/driver, structure, staff, location, money and other resources, a clear mission, benefits, uniqueness, tangible products, goodwill and shared power, and early success with a "hot" issue. The booklet also outlines the steps that should be taken to establish and sustain cooperative programs. These include making initial contact with the parties whose participation is essential, agreeing on a purpose, identifying other stakeholders, establishing a structure and home for the organization, developing a plan of action, deciding how the organization will communicate with its members, marketing the program, initial training, conducting a project to address a specific problem, measuring success, and selecting more problems to address. Helpful resources are listed, and shaded sidebars are provided throughout the document to describe specific local, State, and national partnerships from around the country. These descriptions illustrate the variety of partnership formats and activities.