UC Santa Cruz Police Department Policies related to this pillar:

201: Community Engagement

393: Community Relations

Our Community Engagement and Community Relations Policies are based on the following components:

Partnerships

Problem Solving

Shared Responsibilities

Mutual Respect

Knowledge & Understanding

Communication

Community Involvement

Training

Interacting with Youth

4.1 RECOMMENDATION: Law enforcement agencies should develop and adopt policies and strategies that reinforce the importance of community engagement in managing public safety.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this recommendation item.  Our policies and practices reinforce the importance of community engagement and inclusion in serving our community and managing public safety.  Law enforcement on campus has the primary mission of personal and academic development for our students and community rather than enforcement or crime-fighting.  

4.1.1 ACTION ITEM: Law Enforcement agencies should consider adopting preferences for seeking “least harm” resolutions, such as diversion programs or warnings and citations in lieu of arrest for minor infractions.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.   We reward department members and community members for their excellent performance and behavior through a variety of means.  Resolutions include non-enforcement action(s).  When appropriate, we seek resolution via the UC Santa Cruz Community Standards and Conduct processes and the UC Santa Cruz Human Resource processes in lieu of arrest for minor infractions. Our officers are cross-trained to fill multiple roles, which by nature require them to adapt and find alternative resolutions while using available resources.  

4.2 RECOMMENDATION: Community policing should be infused throughout the culture and organizational structure of Law Enforcement agencies.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this recommendation item. Our department has a history of community policing. The tenets of community policing are taught in basic training and modeled throughout the department. Community policing is reinforced in our policies and procedures, training, and promotional processes.

4.2.1 ACTION ITEM: Law Enforcement agencies should evaluate officers on their efforts to engage members of the community and the partnerships they build. Making this part of the performance evaluation process places an increased value on developing partnerships.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  Community partnership and collaboration is a continued effort and goal of our members.   Officers are evaluated on their efforts to find opportunities to engage in partnerships, shared education and understanding, and build trust with our community.  

4.2.2 ACTION ITEM: Law Enforcement agencies should evaluate their patrol deployment practices to allow sufficient time for patrol to participate in problem solving and community engagement activities.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  Our department supports and factors in staffing and time to allow our patrol officers to participate in community meetings and serve on multi-disciplinary teams.  Officers are expected to engage in community problem-solving activities and work with our community members to find the best solutions for safety concerns. 

4.2.3 ACTION ITEM: The U.S. Department of Justice and other public and private entities should support research into the factors that have led to dramatic successes in crime reduction in some communities through the infusion of non-discriminatory policing and to determine replicable factors that could be used to guide law enforcement agencies in other communities. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this U.S. Department of Justice and public and private entity action item.

4.3 RECOMMENDATION: Law enforcement agencies should engage in multidisciplinary, community team approaches for planning, implementing, and responding to crisis situations with complex causal factors. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this recommendation item. The UC Santa Cruz Police Department currently engages in several multidisciplinary teams, including Slug Support, commencement planning, and many others.  On July 1, 2020, our Chancellor announced our department will partner with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and others to develop a Crisis Intervention Team model for responding to mental health calls. This action has been in the planning stages for several years. This work will be framed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness model.  We look forward to implementing this multidisciplinary community team approach to serve our community best. 

As with many college campuses, the UC Santa Cruz Police Department operates 24/7/365.  Many times, we are the only resource available to our community members.  Our officers extend themselves and adapt to the community.  We embrace many hats, which means developing competence in areas not traditionally associated with policing to meet our community needs. 

4.3.1 ACTION ITEM: The U.S. Department of Justice should collaborate with others to develop and disseminate baseline models of this crisis intervention team approach that can be adapted to local contexts. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this U.S. Department of Justice action item.

4.3.2 ACTION ITEM: Communities should look to involve peer support counselors as part of multidisciplinary teams when appropriate. Persons who have experienced the same trauma can provide both insight to the first responders and immediate support to individuals in crisis. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this community action item.

The UC Council of Chiefs has been in discussion to implement peer counseling within the UC Police Departments. The UC Santa Cruz Police Department also engages with police chaplains and community psychologists to assist and support individual department members.  

The Office of the President has contracts with numerous organizations that can support members. Moreover, during crises each campus lends personnel to assist with trauma counseling. 

4.3.3 ACTION ITEM: Communities should be encouraged to evaluate the efficacy of these crisis intervention team approaches and hold department leaders accountable for outcomes. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this community action item.

4.4 RECOMMENDATION: Communities should support a culture and practice of policing that reflects the values of protection and promotion of the dignity of all, especially the most vulnerable.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this community recommendation item. We regularly have positive interactions with and work not to be seen only as enforcers.  We invite participation from diverse community members, especially our community members of vulnerable populations, as community partners, on our advisory board, and as interns and volunteers.  

4.4.1 ACTION ITEM: Because offensive or harsh language can escalate a minor situation, law enforcement agencies should underscore the importance of language used and adopt policies directing officers to speak to individuals with respect. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  The department has a policy prohibiting abusive or profane language.  We recognize the importance of using professional and appropriate communication to enhance and maintain trust and interact with our community members with respect.  This is especially underscored in our approach to de-escalating tense situations and has incorporated language as a component in our training components.  

4.4.2 ACTION ITEM: Law enforcement agencies should develop programs that create opportunities for patrol officers to regularly interact with neighborhood residents, faith leaders, and business leaders.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  We provide our members with opportunities to interact with residents, community faith groups and leaders, and business leaders.

4.5 RECOMMENDATION: Community policing emphasizes working with neighborhood residents to co-produce public safety. Law Enforcement agencies should work with community residents to identify problems and collaborate on implementing solutions that produce meaningful results for the community.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this recommendation item.  We proactively deploy our resources, equipment, and personnel, including our Police Student Ambassadors, to prevent and reduce crime, improve relationships, and mitigate unintended consequences. We regularly inform the community with emergency notifications, timely warnings, and CruzAlert notifications to be alerted to conditions on campus.

We have held community training programs including, but not limited to active shooter, leadership in the classroom, BBQ and Badges events, Cops and Coffee events, ride-alongs, community safety tabling events, the Clery Act, and more. Our ongoing community programs include Community Police Academy (available since 2008), self-defense classes for women (since 2015), and Community First Aid/CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS)(since 2017). Our officers attend safety forums and Q&A sessions with our residents, student groups and organizations, and UCSC departments to enhance our relationships and provide opportunities for understanding and collaboration in the interest of public safety.

4.5.1 ACTION ITEM: Law enforcement agencies should schedule regular forums and meetings where all community members can interact with police and help influence programs and policy. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item. Throughout the year, we schedule regular forums and meetings where community members interact with police and help influence programs and policy. The Chief of Police also holds weekly office hours to meet with community members.

4.5.2 ACTION ITEM: Law Enforcement agencies should engage youth and communities in joint training with law enforcement, citizen academies, ride along, problem solving teams, community action teams, and quality of life teams.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item. Our department engages community members of all ages with our community programs, including Community Police Academy (available since 2008), self-defense classes for women (since 2015), and Community First Aid/CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS)(since 2017).

4.5.3 ACTION ITEM: Law Enforcement agencies should establish formal community/citizen advisory committees to assist in developing crime prevention strategies and department policies as well as provide input on policing issues.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item. Created in 2014, the Chief of Police engaged various stakeholders through the Chief’s Advisory Board.  The board met quarterly and included faculty, staff, and students.  Effective July 1, 2020, the Chief’s Advisory Board will report directly to the Chancellor as the UC Santa Cruz Campus Safety Community Advisory Board. It will operate with a new, more expansive charge.  

4.5.4 ACTION ITEM: Law enforcement agencies should adopt community policing strategies that support and work in concert with economic development efforts within communities.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item. We work with UC Santa Cruz and UC departments to research and develop community policing strategies that support and work in concert with communities’ economic development efforts.

4.6 RECOMMENDATION: Communities should adopt policies and programs that address the needs of children and youth most at risk for crime or violence and reduce aggressive law enforcement tactics that stigmatize youth and marginalize their participation in schools and communities.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this community recommendation item.

4.6.1 ACTION ITEM: Education and criminal justice agencies at all levels of government should work together to reform policies and procedures that push children into the juvenile justice system. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item. Via the UCSC Community Standards and Conduct department, UCSC Human Resources, community government entities, and campus partners, we work towards reforming policies and procedures that push children into the juvenile justice system.  

4.6.2 ACTION ITEM: In order to keep youth in school and keep them from criminal and violent behavior, law enforcement agencies should work with schools to encourage the creation of alternatives to student suspensions and expulsion through restorative justice, diversion, counseling, and family interventions. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  In collaboration with campus partners, including UCSC Slug Support, UCSC Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP), and the UCSC Student Health Center, UCSC Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and UCSC Student Conduct and Community Standards, the UC Santa Cruz Police Department works to encourage the creation of alternatives to student suspensions and expulsion through restorative justice, diversion, counseling, and family interventions.

4.6.3 ACTION ITEM: Law Enforcement agencies should work with schools to encourage the use of alternative strategies that involve youth in decision making, such as restorative justice, youth courts, and peer interventions.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  In collaboration with campus partners, including UCSC Slug Support, UCSC Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP), and the UCSC Student Health Center, UCSC Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and UCSC Student Conduct and Community Standards, the UC Santa Cruz Police Department works to identify alternative strategies that involve youth in decision making, such as restorative justice, youth courts, and peer interventions.

4.6.4 ACTION ITEM: Law enforcement agencies should work with schools to adopt an instructional approach to discipline that uses interventions or disciplinary consequences to help students develop new behavioral skills and positive strategies to avoid conflict, redirect energy, and refocus on learning. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  In collaboration with campus partners, including UCSC Slug Support, UCSC Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP), and the UCSC Student Health Center, UCSC Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and UCSC Student Conduct and Community Standards, the UC Santa Cruz Police Department works to help students develop new behavioral skills and positive strategies to avoid conflict, redirect energy, and refocus on learning.

4.6.5 ACTION ITEM: Law enforcement agencies should work with schools to develop and monitor school discipline policies with input and collaboration from school personnel, students, families, and community members. These policies should prohibit the use of corporal punishment and electronic control devices. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department cannot support this action item as we do not believe law enforcement or our department or its members should be involved in making policies for the school system.  Furthermore, the State of California banned corporal punishment in 1986 and does not allow corporal punishment even when a parent consents. 

4.6.6 ACTION ITEM: Law enforcement agencies should work with schools to create a continuum of developmentally appropriate and proportional consequences for addressing ongoing and escalating student misbehavior after all appropriate interventions have been attempted. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department cannot support this action item.  While we support the creation of such a continuum, this should be done at the school level without the police’s involvement. 

4.6.7 ACTION ITEM: Law enforcement agencies should work with communities to play a role in programs and procedures to reintegrate juveniles back into their communities as they leave the juvenile justice system. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  We look forward to working with community partners in being a beneficial and supportive resource to reintegrate juveniles back into their communities as they leave the juvenile justice system.

4.6.8 ACTION ITEM: Law enforcement agencies and schools should establish memoranda of agreement for the placement of School Resource Officers that limit police involvement in student discipline. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  While we do not have School Resource Officers in local schools, we support limiting police involvement in school discipline. 

4.6.9 ACTION ITEM: The Federal government should assess and evaluate zero tolerance strategies and examine the role of reasonable discretion when dealing with adolescents in consideration of their stages of maturation or development. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this Federal Government action item.  

4.7 RECOMMENDATION: Communities need to affirm and recognize the voices of youth in community decision making, facilitate youth-led research and problem solving, and develop and fund youth leadership training and life skills through positive youth/police collaboration and interactions. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this community recommendation item. We look forward to collaborating with our community leaders and groups to help facilitate youth-led research and problem solving, and develop and fund youth leadership training and life skills through positive youth/police collaboration and interactions. 

4.7.1 ACTION ITEM: Communities and law enforcement agencies should restore and build trust between youth and police by creating programs and projects for positive, consistent, and persistent interaction between youth and police. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this community action item.  We have researched youth projects and programs we can collaborate with and continue looking for ways to fund these programs and implement them.

We engage with our student community through various events we host or sponsor each academic year through our Student Ambassador Program and Community Police Academy.

We also participate in a restorative justice program, when appropriate, through the Dean of Students Office.

4.7.2 ACTION ITEM: Communities should develop community and school based, evidence based programs that mitigate punitive and authoritarian solutions to teen problems. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this community action item.