Vital Partners: Mayors and Police Chiefs Working Together for America's Children and Youth

The National League of Cites (NLC) and COPS have released a new report highlighting effective collaborations between mayors and law enforcement officials to protect the safety of children and youth. The report is the product of an intensive research, data collection, and outreach effort by NLC's Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, the COPS Office, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The report describes effective partnerships in cities of every size and region that demonstrate the importance of community oriented policing strategies, the role of data in sustaining momentum and measuring results, and the challenges of building partnerships around a shared community vision. Topics addressed in the report include prevention of gang violence, bullying, and substance abuse; creating safe places for recreation; effective neighborhood policing programs; and partnerships with diverse stakeholders.