On July 16, 2020, Mr. Paul J. Chapa who serves as the Assistant Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management and Safety and Chief of Police at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas presented to the Law Enforcement Area Resource Network (LEARN) from the Boston Massachusetts area. The topic of Chief Chapa’s presentation was “Community Engagement Through 21st Century Policing.”
Chief Chapa shared the many community engagement initiatives his team has sponsored to include Pan Dulce with Police, Cop Corn, Coffee with a Cop and many more. Chief Chapa commented “The 21st Century Policing Six Pillars are measures that all police agencies should adopt, it’s what our communities demand now more than ever.” The six pillars are identified as 1.) Building Trust and Legitimacy 2.) Policy and Oversight 3.) Technology and Social Media 4.) Community Policing and Crime Reduction 5.) Officer Training and Education and 6.) Officer Safety and Wellness.
During the presentation Chief Chapa shared “As many police agencies are seeking a path forward in our current social pandemic against the police, the six pillars have identified a strong foundation for us to adopt.” On December 18, 2014, President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order appointing an 11-member task force on 21st century policing to respond to a number of serious incidents between law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect. The President wanted a quick but thorough response that would begin the process of healing and restore community trust.
Other police agencies that participated in the zoom presentation included Harvard University Police Department, Brown University Police Department, Northeastern University Police Department, MIT Police Department, and many more. Special thanks to Sergeant Jacobo Negron of Harvard University Police Department for coordinating the presentation.
The Trinity University Police Department has achieved Recognition status from the Texas Police Chief’s Association and Accreditation from the International Association of Police Administrators. Both accreditations are voluntary processes where police agencies prove their compliance with over 200 Law Enforcement Best Practices. These Best Practices were carefully developed by law enforcement professionals to assist agencies in the efficient and effective delivery of service, the reduction of risk and the protection of individual’s rights.
Chief Chapa served as the National President of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) in 2012-2013.
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