Transformational Policing Initiative
UC San Diego has launched a transformational policing initiative.
Transformational policing is a cultural shift that promotes justice and equity, fostering trust, collaborative community relationships and empowering all officers to make positive change to the benefit of the communities they protect.
Transformational policing complements and aligns with the 58 recommendations encompassed in the six (6) pillars of the 2015 U.S. President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, the 28 recommendations of the 2019 University of California Presidential Task Force on Policing report and the UC Community Safety Plan. We have adopted policies, programs and practices that align with the tenets of transformational policing.
The components of transformational policing are a two-part approach, with the first being collaborative community cultural coaching. This means working with the community regarding cultural aspects of American history that we may not have an understanding and knowledge of.
The second component is criminal justice education. This means educating law enforcement and the community on aspects of history that have both affected and guided police and community relationships. There is a focus on growth and development in a joint effort between law enforcement and communities.
The focus of our professional development includes ongoing education and understanding of:
- Empathy and emotional intelligence—appreciating others’ perspectives
- Implicit bias and its effects
- Conflict resolution
- Building trust and community
- History of institutions and government in our communities
- Value and strength in relationships with our communities
- Inclusion, equity and equality
This ongoing collaboration started more than a year ago, defining what equity, diversity and inclusion means for our police and how we are partners in advancing the university’s educational mission.
The following provides an overview of how we implemented those recommendations within the six (6) pillars that most directly affect the roles and responsibilities of the UC San Diego Police Department and not those of a Federal Level or non‐law-enforcement agencies.
Of the 58 recommendations; 38 directly relate to law enforcement, and 20 recommendations are aimed at government agencies or community organizations. There are 91 Action Items; 50 items are related directly to law enforcement and 41 are intended for the government agencies, other entities or community organizations outlined in this report. In addition, the UC San Diego Police Department supports the remaining 14 recommendations aimed at government agencies and/or community organizations and will implement those suggestions when practical when/if they are acted upon by the appropriate government department and/or community organization.
Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence
The UC San Diego community engaged in a collaborative and inclusive effort to shape the future of our campus through the UC San Diego Strategic Plan, which provides a framework for sustainable excellence, defines our shared aspirations, and identifies five goals to unify our campus. The Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence was developed to aid in the creation of individual plans while affording each unit or division significant latitude to identify the goals and strategies best suited to them.
Presidential Task Force on Universitywide Policing
Recently retired University of California President Janet Napolitano created a task force to examine the investigative practices, use of force-related policies and training of the UC police departments in an effort to strengthen the departments’ practices and their relationships and interactions with the community. The Task Force report, finalized in early 2019, included 28 recommendations in six areas—the complaint process and policies; use of force, including training, polices and protocols; officer training; establishment of and standards for police advisory boards; community engagement; and transparency and reporting. In June 2020, the final implementation report was issued.