Forging public safety partnerships through community-based training, the Florida RCPI is a joint effort between law enforcement, educational institutions and the community.
New Grants Awarded to FL RCPI
The Florida Regional Community Policing Institute has recently been awarded three different grants to provide a variety of training and curriculum design, ranging from law enforcement suicide prevention to Spanish speakers resource development.
Crimes Excacerbated by Economic Distress – Funded by BJA
The precipitous fall of the economy has set off tremors across many facets of law enforcement. From mortgage fraud to homelessness to cyber crimes, the distressed economy has exacerbated many issues that were fragile prior to the financial crisis. The Florida RCPI has received funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide training to law enforcement on topics related to crime that has increased due to the economic downturn. The FL RCPI will develop, enhance and revise training curriculum and provide 30 on-site training sessions across the nation. FL RCPI will also use a Speakers Bureau to provide experts on specific topics to present at conferences as requested by BJA. Topics may include homelessness, cyber crime and identity theft.
Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention – Funded by BJA
The emotional toll of law enforcement work can be devastating. It is commonly reported that officers are eight times more likely to die from suicide than from line-of-duty fatalities. The typically macho law enforcement setting, the fear of losing one’s job or being demoted, and the stigma of suicide creates an atmosphere where officers are reluctant to seek help when they are in psychological crisis. This environment, coupled with the fact that officers have ready access to weapons as a means of suicide, creates a lethal combination.
In addressing law enforcement suicide, change must occur on the individual officer level as well as the organizational level. Officers also need to know when and how to appropriately intervene when they see that a coworker is in crisis. Law enforcement agencies that recognize the myths and misconceptions about suicide stand a better chance of reducing the risks of suicide among their ranks. The Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention Training and Support Program conducted by the FL RCPI will provide prevention and education efforts at a community level to law enforcement. The overall goal is to improve the probability that law enforcement officers contemplating suicide will seek help from mental health professionals.
Spanish Speakers Resource Development – Funded by COPS
The FL RCPI is collaborating with the Law Enforcement Institute of Puerto Rico to develop community oriented policing resources for Spanish speakers. This project will include a three-day training conference in Puerto Rico, curriculum revision and translation, training, research and evaluation. Specific topics will include human trafficking, leadership in law enforcement and community policing. The LEI of PR is a unique bilingual institute providing public safety training in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Their mission is to provide law enforcement training, technical assistance and research at local, state and federal levels in collaboration with the community and agencies with the main purpose to enhance public safety and national security.