Pillar 4: Community Policing and Crime Reduction

BRPD Alignment

1. At the core of BRPD’s mission is our pledge "to serve with the Baton Rouge community to prevent crime and to promote the safety and well-being of all." General Order 106 Mission Values
   
   
2. BRPD’s commitment to justice and integrity is at the heart of our Code of Ethics and the sworn oath each officer takes upon graduation from the Academy: General-Order-107-Code-of-Ethics-Oath-of-Office
   
   
3. In the course of carrying out their duties, all BRPD employees are expected to embody competence and respect in their service to the Baton Rouge community.   
   
   
4. BRPD recognizes that previous and present injustice and discrimination are barriers to building community trust. BRPD’s Community Service Division develops and executes community outreach, youth engagement, and crime prevention among its services.
   
   
5. Procedural justice is embedded in our culture, beginning with BRPD’s Academy Curriculum Academy Course Schedule. 
   
   
6. BRPD’s policy on Bias-Based Policing (General Order 108) General Order 108 Bias-Based-Profiling fundamentally supports BRPD’s aim to earn public trust. 
   
   
7. In 2019, Chief Murphy Paul established a new line of communication between community leaders, and the BRPD, through the formation of the Chief’s Advisory Council. This group of about 30 members represents a cross-section of grassroots groups and local organizations. The group meets bi-monthly, and as needed if there is a pending community issue. Members of the group express their concerns about relevant matters in the community and provide honest and direct feedback. In some cases, this group has made recommendations that have been adopted as policy, and at each meeting, the Council is briefed and given the opportunity to provide feedback on pending policies.
   
   
8. The BRPD and DEA Citizens Academy is an 8-week training session. Participants meet with BRPD Chief Murphy Paul, BRPD Detectives, DEA Special Agents, and BRPD Academy Staff who provide insight into the daily life of a law enforcement officer, as well as law enforcement training techniques. During the sessions, law Enforcement Officers have honest discussions with class participants, who in turn share their advice relative to community engagement.
   
   
9. As part of its Training Academy and In-Service Training, BRPD hosts Community Conversations, where community members have an opportunity to present and explore topics with cadets and officers. Having these genuine conversations helps ensure cadets and officers continue to see and think about policing from the perspective of citizens. 
   
   
10. In December 2021, BRPD launched a new strategy, whereby officers regularly interact with citizens in their own neighborhoods. Each week, BRPD officers walk the streets of various neighborhoods during the Department’s Community Canvases. BRPD leaders and officers say the effort is providing new insight and building mutual understanding between citizens and law enforcement.
    
    
11. After a decades-long hiatus, BRPD recently re-launched its Explorers Post #225 program. The program is for students, ages 14-18.  Explorers #225 gives participants a real look at a career as a first responder, with an emphasis on Law Enforcement as they rotate through each Division of BRPD.  During the program, participants learn their rights, as well as the local and state laws of Louisiana.  They are trained in First Aid and CPR and even have opportunities to ride with EMS on service calls. Participants acquire team-building skills. And most importantly, they grow in compassion for their fellow citizens through community service and volunteerism and form trusting relationships with police officers. 
    
    
12. Similarly, adults ages 18-21 can participate in BRPD’s Cadet program, whereby participants work full-time for the BRPD, shadowing police officers in every Division.  Although Cadets must still complete the Department’s Training Academy to become sworn police officers, their years of service start accruing on their first day as Cadets. The Cadet program is meeting its objectives, encouraging young adults to pursue careers in law enforcement, and giving community members an upfront and personal view of BRPD. 

Resources

• In Baton Rouge, stopping a surge in violent crime starts with a basketball hoop
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• Baton Rouge police chief to city on rising crime: 'Resources, resolve and reassurance'
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• Baton Rouge leaders plan police chief advisory council after citizen recommendations
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• Chief's Advisory Council 
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• Baton Rouge Police effort to build relationships with the community
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• CapitalAreaPAL
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• Explorers 225 Post
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• Baton Rouge officers will canvas communities to address crime concerns
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• Baton Rouge Police Officers participated in a Community Canvass of the Scotlandville area known as the “Field”. Officers spoke with residents in the neighborhood and
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• New BRPD class — majority Black, nearly half female — adds to historically White male department
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• Judge releases Baton Rouge from decades old federal decree on local police, fire departments
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• Judge lifts decades old federal consent decree on Baton Rouge police, fire departments
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• Baton Rouge Police Department looks to improve public trust through new Citizens Academy 
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• BRPD has high hopes that an old program will bring new beginnings
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• With the cadet program, BRPD hopes to give future officers a head start 
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• Top Baton Rouge police officials talk about ongoing department reforms