On March 23, 2017, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) jointly with the Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association (HNLEA) and the United Black Police Officers Association (UBPOA) presented a Best Practices in Community Policing Program to several Mexican officials, as facilitators of the Police Professionalization Exchange Program for Mexico (PPEP).
PPEP is a program of the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), via the US Embassy in Mexico, designed to provide training and professional development to 3,800 police officials from Mexico over the next three years. The program’s curriculum offers participants direct exposure and access to US police professionals and experts. Its participants receive training and professional development through online lectures, training academies, professional study tours in the US, and a Mexico-based training institute administered by US law enforcement experts and professionals.
Professional study tours allow for focused dialogue and the sharing of knowledge between Mexican and US law enforcement practitioners about the evolution of modern policing and police systems. As well, Mexican and US participants have the unique opportunity to interact while analyzing their roles as law enforcement professionals within their respective communities, and to reflect on how to incorporate best practices and lessons learned.
The first professional study tour took place March 19 through March 25, bringing twenty executive level Mexican law enforcement officials to the United States. Concurrent programs in Jacksonville, FL and Little Rock, AR explored best practices for community policing, and then met in Washington, DC for a three-day Law Enforcement Summit to focus on Federal government efforts and partnerships to promote community involvement in law enforcement. HAPCOA, HNLEA and UBPOA look forward to continued work with the US State Department and our brothers in law enforcement across the globe in order to foster bridges of understandings.