During the PLECET Conference, public safety community engagement practitioners will learn about best and promising community outreach practices and resources that will help them excel in their jobs. Participants will also have the opportunity to formally and informally network with other law enforcement professionals working in similar roles across the nation, which will provide immediate and sustained professional development opportunities. The conference will utilize a standard workshop, caucus, and plenary structure with planned opportunities for networking. After an opening plenary session with prominent national leaders, each participant will take eight separate courses. The training will include workshops with an instructionally designed curriculum constructed to equip community engagement officers with best-in class competencies to maximize their potential impact in local communities. The conference will include a national town hall meeting focused on effectively utilizing community engagement to reduce crime and build trust. Local, state, and federal agencies throughout the United States will be invited to attend. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on-site daily and will be included with the conference registration. During the conference, a cohort of select law enforcement–community engagement professionals will convene for training, access to critical information, and networking. For more information, contact lecen@movementforward.org.

Every year MFI receives inquiries from law enforcement community engagement leads who are enthusiastic about holding community events but often lack sufficient knowhow to maximize the opportunity. While most agencies have good program concepts, many are void of the expertise, organizational capacity, and resources required to implement their ideas. Further, most agencies have not received any form of training on how to best engage with and involve community members, or how to promote their outreach programs, events, and ongoing activities. Others have successfully organized impactful events but lack the expertise to transform these activities into long-term and sustained strategic partnerships that reduce crime and increase mutual trust. These are just a few examples of the community engagement training gaps that will be addressed during the PLECET Conference.