B-CU Center for Law and Justice Conducts Community Engagement Training for Florida Law Enforcement Agencies

Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) Center for Law and Justice hosted an eight-hour Law Enforcement Community Engagement Training and professional development opportunity on Thursday, June 20th and Friday, June 21st at the Mike and Libby Johnson Center for Civic Engagement on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University.

The training was designed to provide law enforcement personnel with effective strategies to build and maintain positive relationships with diverse communities through reciprocal trust and examine the historical nature of the mistrust between law enforcement and some segments of the community. The training explores the impact of past and present events on the perceptions and attitudes of law enforcement and the communities in which they serve. Interactive training sessions focused on strategies to overcome negative police and community events, perceptions, and attitudes through positive engagement.

“B-CU is a state leader in law enforcement and community engagement training, procedural justice, and community-oriented policing strategies,” said Dr. Randy Nelson, B-CU Center for Law and Social Justice Director.

Included were leadership luncheon sessions led by two of the highly-regarded Center for Law and Social Justice Fellows, Ft. Pierce Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney on Thursday, June 20th, and Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma on Friday, June 21st. The leadership session topic was entitled, "Putting ‘Community’ into Community Policing."

Approximately 40 law enforcement professionals were represented from across the state of Florida engaging in value-added training sessions designed to elevate the law enforcement profession and improve public safety in communities statewide. Participants who successfully completed the eight-hour training received a certificate.

B-CU Center for Law and Social Justice is working in partnership with Florida Sheriff’s Association Executive Director Steve Casey. The Florida Sherif’s Association has been in existence since 1893 and is one of the oldest professional law enforcement associations in the nation.

For more information, contact Dr. Randy Nelson at nelsonr@cookman.edu or 850-567-0536.