The U.S. Justice Department has pledged to extend technical support to the Uvalde Police Department (UPD) through the agency's Collaborative Reform Initiative, as announced earlier today. The assistance program, managed by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), will focus on sharpening UPD's training, leadership, and community engagement, following the deeply scrutinized response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary.
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer stated, "Since releasing its report 'Critical Incident Review: Active Shooter at Robb Elementary', the Justice Department has continued to work with the Uvalde community, offering a range of technical assistance on topics that were identified in the report." According to the official announcement, this new phase of cooperation will aim to implement the recommendations from the report.
Director Hugh T. Clements, Jr. of the COPS Office emphasized the organization's ongoing commitment. "I know that the work we are going to do moving forward will be a tremendous resource as the UPD continues with the important work they are dedicated to carrying out," said Clements. This collaboration is expected to tap into Jensen Hughes' expertise, a provider of Critical Response services for law enforcement agencies encountering serious challenges.
The range of services offered by the Collaborative Reform Initiative includes data analysis, immediate technical assistance to address urgent departmental needs, and after-action reviews designed to help law enforcement understand and improve responses to critical situations. The initiative, by design flexible, offers a variety of customizable support to law enforcement agencies in crises or facing significant issues within their communities.
Funded with more than $20 billion since 1994, the COPS Office supports the advancement of community policing across the nation. As the focal federal entity within the Justice Department dedicated to this cause, the COPS Office has supported the hiring and deployment of around 138,000 officers through grants to over 13,000 law enforcement agencies.
