BOISE - The United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshal Service for the District of Idaho will participate in a community policing forum hosted by the College of Western Idaho on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The community policing forum is one of more than 400 community policing events the Department of Justice is leading throughout the United States this week, which President Barack Obama has designated as National Community Policing Week. Community members, local and federal law enforcement agencies, and students from CWI’s law enforcement program are invited to attend the event at the Nampa Campus Academic Building, second floor atrium, 5500 E. Opportunity Drive.
“Strengthening the relationship between law enforcement officers and the communities we serve and protect is one of the top priorities of the Department of Justice and for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Idaho," said Wendy J. Olson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho. “The purpose of National Community Policing Week and of our forum at the College of Western Idaho is to foster dialogue, promote cooperation, and help citizens and law enforcement officers get to know one another as partners in our shared efforts to build stronger, safer, and more just communities for every American."
Community policing is a public safety philosophy based on partnership and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities that they are sworn to protect and serve. At the center of community policing is the idea that all members of the community, both officer and civilian, have a stake in the safety of their neighborhoods where they live and work.
Olson and U.S. Marshal Brian Underwood will lead the forum, highlighting outstanding community policing work from throughout the Treasure Valley. They will announce the 14 recipients of the first Excellence in Community Policing Awards, sponsored by their offices.
“We are fortunate in Idaho to have outstanding community policing efforts at every level of law enforcement," said Underwood. “We are pleased to be recognizing fourteen officers and agents from three different agencies for their excellence in community policing in the Treasure Valley. These officers have demonstrated a commitment to working with community members and making their neighborhoods and their schools safer and stronger."
Olson and Underwood noted that the Community Policing Forum is the culmination of public meetings and open houses that they have hosted since early August in the three Idaho locations where both have offices, Boise, Pocatello and Coeur d’Alene.
“U.S. Marshal Brian Underwood and I are committed to providing the people we serve with an opportunity to meet and raise concerns with us as federal law enforcement leaders in Idaho," said Olson. “We hope that Treasure Valley residents will join us on Wednesday evening to learn more about the outstanding efforts in community policing in Idaho and to help us identify where we need improvement and what we can do better."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
