Today, the University of Chicago Community Safety Leadership Academies welcomed its first cohort of police leaders from police departments from across America. The leaders will begin a six-month education program on data-driven management, violence reduction, and community trust as part of the newly launched Policing Leadership Academy (PLA). The impacts of this ambitious leadership and management educational program will be measured and evaluated in the most rigorous possible way, to ensure it’s achieving its two interconnected goals: reducing violence and increasing policing fairness on the ground.
“Many of America’s most economically disadvantaged and racially segregated neighborhoods are experiencing higher rates of gun violence than ever before, and research shows that if we want to save lives, fair and effective policing is essential,” said Roseanna Ander, Executive Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, the research organization housing the initiative. “But in far too many communities, we are failing to deliver policing that truly serves and protects. The Policing Leadership Academy is trying to change that.”
The PLA’s first cohort consists of over 24 rising police leaders from 24 police departments across the country and world, including Baltimore, Dallas, and Philadelphia. These leaders are currently tasked with managing America’s highest violence police districts every day. Collectively, the first cohort of leaders serve cities comprising over 20% of homicides in America. Police leaders from Manchester, United Kingdom are also joining the program.
Localities represented in the PLA’s first cohort are:
● Arlington, Texas
● Aurora, Colorado
● Baltimore, Maryland
● Boston, Massachusetts
● Chicago, Illinois
● Cleveland, Ohio
● Dallas, Texas
● Detroit, Michigan
● Indianapolis, Indiana
● Knoxville, Tennessee
● Los Angeles, California
● Madison, Wisconsin
● Manchester, United Kingdom
● Miami, Florida
● Miami-Dade County, Florida
● New Orleans, Louisiana
● New York City, New York
● Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
● Phoenix, Arizona
● St. Louis, Missouri
● Waco, Texas
● Washington, D.C.
● Wichita, Kansas
● Yavapai Nation, Fort McDowell Police Department
