- Welcome to LECEN.
Empowering Community
Engagement in Law
Enforcement.
The Law Enforcement-Community Engagement Network (LECEN)
is an ongoing resource that provides best practices, peer support,
industry expertise, and current research for sworn and non-sworn
personnel assigned to community engagement roles within law
enforcement agencies across the nation. The LECEN is currently in
an initial cohort and will commence open applications in 2025.

Mission
The mission of LECEN is to professionalize law enforcement community engagement efforts by establishing a trusted network
where members can connect, develop, and collaborate.
Problem
Research has shown, and community members and law enforcement professionals agree, enhanced and expanded training and peer support for public safety personnel is needed to reduce crime, build trust, and enable successful police-community collaboration.
Research has shown, and community members and law enforcement professionals agree, enhanced and expanded training and peer support for public safety personnel is needed to reduce crime, build trust, and enable successful police-community collaboration.
Multiple functions within and outside law enforcement provide ongoing peer support and access to cutting edge resources and strategies for professionals in the discharge of their duties. Yet, there is a colossal lack of networking and ongoing training opportunities for community engagement roles, including chaplains, within the law enforcement profession. As crime rates rise, communities and police also concur that strong community–law enforcement partnerships are increasingly requisite for public safety.

Solution
Research-Based Approach
LECEN utilizes evaluated best practices in creating connections across difference. The underlying theory is “Intergroup Contact Theory” which was pioneered after World War II efforts in integration and sets the conditions for successful engagement between groups, including the types of activities and the role for leadership. LECEN members learn how to further use these approaches, how their agencies can support them, and how to evaluate for impact.
Network member benefits
- Learn about best and promising community outreach practices and resources that will help you excel in your job.
- Connect with other law enforcement professionals working in similar roles across the nation, which will provide immediate and sustained professional development opportunities.
- Organize local programming simultaneously to other network members, sharing best practices and lessons learned, and having first access to resources including training guides and swag.
LAW Enforcement SOLUTIONs for Outreach and Engagement
Impact
Bridging Gaps in Law Enforcement Community
Engagement
While most law enforcement community engagement professionals have great instincts and good intentions, they might lack the expertise, organizational capacity, and resources required to implement their ideas.
Further, most community engagement professionals have not received any form of peer support 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 addressed by participating in the law enforcement-community engagement network.

contact lecen
- LOCATION
2987 Clairmon Rd. NE Suite 230 Atlanta, GA 30329
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