[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27846-27851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12692]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Office of Community Oriented Policing Services FY 2003 Community 
Policing Discretionary Grants

AGENCY: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Department of 
Justice.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community oriented 
Policing Services (COPS Office) is seeking proposals to fund a variety 
of initiatives designed to enhance local law enforcement community 
policing efforts. This solicitation provides background on the COPS 
Office and outlines the types of projects and programs the Office is 
interested in funding through grants or cooperative agreements. The 
solicitation should be of particular interest to law enforcement 
agencies, universities, and profit and non-profit institutions with an 
interest in an experience with community policing. The purpose of this 
solicitation is to provide funding for community policing efforts 
through their direct enhancement, the development of products, tools, 
or applied research that will facilitate their adoption and 
implementation and/or the development of training and technical 
assistance. This solicitation is being announced as an open 
competition. Awardees will be expected to begin work immediately upon 
selection.
    Background: Since 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of 
Community Oriented Policing Services has been the Federal government 
office whose unique mission it is to directly serve the needs of local 
law enforcement. COPS is responsible for making grants to States, units 
of local government, Indian tribal governments, other public and 
private entities, and multi-jurisdictional or regional consortia with 
the goals of increasing police presence, expanding and improving 
cooperative efforts between law enforcement agencies and members of the 
community, supporting innovative community policing projects, and 
otherwise enhancing public safety through reductions in crime and 
social disorder.
    The COPS Office has awarded grants to more than 13,000 policing 
agencies across the country and has provided funding for over 116,000 
officers through direct hiring grants and the redeployment of officers 
through the purchase of time-saving technology and the hiring of 
civilians. The Office has also funded a wide-variety of innovative 
policing grants to combat crime and enhance public safety.
    Innovative grants have included funding to foster collaborative 
problem-solving between police and community-based agencies or schools, 
engaging faith based communities, domestic violence response and 
prevention, 311 systems, anti-gang efforts, and methamphetamine 
reduction. The COPS Office has also funded the creation of 31 Regional 
Community Policing Institutes (RCPIs) to foster training in community 
policing at the regional level. The Office has a history of producing 
practical and useable products and publications for the law enforcement 
field. Additional information regarding the COPS Office can be found at 
www.cops.usdoj.gov.
    Funding Availability and Applicant Criteria: Depending on the 
fundability of proposals received by the COPS Office, funding amounts 
may be increased or decreased within categories. In addition, all 
categories/parts may not receive funding based upon the quality of 
applications. Additional projects may be funded from this solicitation 
with fiscal year 2004 appropriations if such appropriations are 
forthcoming. Grants or cooperative agreements will be awarded for a 
minimum of a one-year grant period and a maximum of a two-year grant 
period.
    The COPS Office is seeking proposals under an Open Topic area where 
applicants are encouraged to develop innovative original proposals that 
support the mission and goals of the COPS Office. In addition, the COPS 
Office is seeking specific proposals in the following two general 
categories: Applied Research/Pilot Programs and Evaluations. 
Descriptions of the specific types of proposals the Office is seeking 
are provided under each of these general areas. Please note that 
applicants are eligible to apply for several projects under multiple 
areas. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit original and 
innovative ideas under the Open Topics area.

A. Open Topics (A)

Approximate Funding per Project: $250,000

    Applicants are encouraged to present original and innovative 
proposals under this topic area. Proposals must support

[[Page 27847]]

the mission and goals of the COPS Office to advance the community 
policing efforts of local law enforcement. Applicants may propose such 
projects as the direct funding of innovative pilot programs (for 
example community oriented government pilot projects), the development 
of tools, products or applied research that will facilitate the 
implementation or advancement of community policing efforts, or 
providing training and/or technical assistance to local law enforcement 
concerning issues relevant to community policing topics (for example 
community policing as it relates to intelligence gathering). Note that 
if pilot programs are proposed, they must include an evaluation 
component to ensure that program effectiveness can be determined and 
replicated by other agencies.

B. Applied Research/Pilot Programs

1. Institutionalizing Problem Analysis (B1)

Approximate Funding: $500,000
    Purpose/Goal: Effective problem-solving requires the in-depth 
analysis of the underlying conditions that give rise to community 
problems. The COPS Office recognizes the need to increase the 
capability of law enforcement agencies to engage in such problem 
analysis activities to develop effective solutions to them. In 
furtherance of this objective, the COPS Office recently convened a 
forum of leading experts and practitioners to discuss and clarify the 
notion of problem analysis. The publication ``Problem Analysis in 
Policing'' details the primary results of this forum and can be found 
at www.cops.usdoj./gov/Default.asp?Open=True&Item=847.
    Applicants should familiarize themselves with this document; as the 
primary goal of this project is to facilitate the implementation of 
problem analysis into approximately five law enforcement agencies of 
varying size.
    Objectives/Expectations: The applicant will develop a process to 
select five law enforcement agencies that have a demonstrated 
commitment to and understanding of the problemsolving process. A 
significant portion of the funding requested should be used to provide 
``incentive'' monies directly to each of the selected agencies to 
enhance their problem analysiscapabilities. For example, this 
enhancement may include funding such items as a portion of the salary 
of a new problem analyst or funding to perform problem analysis 
research and hardware/software used for problem analysis. The applicant 
will be expected to provide technical assistance throughout the course 
of the project to ensure the greatest possibility of achieving the 
institutionalization of problem analysis capabilities within the 
policing agencies. The applicant will also be expected to engage in a 
detailed process evaluation, including case studies of each of the 
sites, which will enable other agencies to replicate and learn from 
these efforts.
    Deliverables: The applicant will be expected to deliver a 
description of site selection criteria, any training curriculum/
technical assistance resources developed for the agencies, a final 
detailed process evaluation, and case studies of each of the five 
selected sites. The applicant will also be expected to develop a final 
guide for use by police agencies who are seeking to institutionalize a 
problem analytic function.
    Knowledge/Experience Required: Proposals should provide a 
definition of problem analysis, differentiating it from crime analysis 
as it is currently conducted, and discuss the current state of problem 
analysis in the nation's law enforcement agencies. The applicant should 
provide a preliminary outline of the process that will be used to 
select the five agencies and demonstrate their knowledge of law 
enforcement agencies and past experience working closely with them. The 
applicant should demonstrate a thorough understanding of community 
policing and problem-solving processes and the ability to train others 
in them.

2. Hiring/Recruitment/Retention of Community Police Officers (B2)

Approximate funding: $400,000
    Purpose/Goal: Hiring and retaining top quality police officers has 
long been both a priority and a challenge for police agencies. This has 
become even more critical in an era of community policing since the 
events of 9/11. There are many stages and activities associated with 
recruiting, hiring, and retaining officers with the skills to meet 
today's challenges. The COPS Office seeks to expand upon the 
development of hiring, recruitment and retention tools that both 
reflect community policing principles and respond to the hiring 
pressures facing law enforcement. The state of knowledge and experience 
regarding successful and innovative recruitment, hiring and retention 
practices has grown in recent years, and the purpose of this funding is 
to continue this advancement.
    Objectives/Expectations: Local law enforcement is the front line in 
the fight against terrorism at home. Yet law enforcement agencies are 
losing sworn officers at a rapid rate due to retirement, the creation 
of new federal positions that often provide competitive salary and 
benefits packages, and military call-ups. These factors, along with the 
emergence of community policing as the predominant policing paradigm, 
necessitate the development and testing of innovative practices to 
recruit and retain quality sworn personnel.
    In two Chief Executive Officer Symposia convened by the COPS Office 
both pre- and post-9/11, police and sheriff executives identified 
several points of need in the area of police recruitment and hiring. 
These include a definition of an ideal candidate that incorporates the 
perspectives of not only those in law enforcement, but also the views 
of the community. Similarly, a national job description and a validated 
set of core competencies that more comprehensively reflect community 
policing and problem solving principles are needed. Another identified 
priority was research into private sector best practices on 
recruitment, retention, leadership, and succession planning that could 
be leveraged in a policing environment. Tools and techniques for 
confronting institutional biases within these processes are also 
important to develop. Finally, these leaders also expressed an interest 
in the development of a national marketing campaign geared towards 
promoting policing in the 21st Century.
    The expectations for grants and cooperative agreements funded under 
this section are to respond to these recommendations through innovative 
projects, applied research, and/or the development of practical tools 
for use by law enforcement.
    Deliverables/Outcomes: Projects under this topic area could take 
several forms, such as the development of pilot programs that are able 
to be replicated, monograph publications, recruitment tools for use by 
police departments, innovative testing and interviewing instruments, or 
the development of effective model print, radio and television 
employment public service announcements for use by agencies. Applied 
research projects that examine the effectiveness of recruitment and 
retention efforts, separately and combined, in attracting and retaining 
women and minorities may also be funded. For instance, it may be 
important to evaluate the relative effectiveness of various assessment 
instruments in predicting future police performance (according to 
community policing principles)--and as important--who will remain in 
law enforcement. Issues related to whether

[[Page 27848]]

what recruits learn in the academy accurately reflects the work they 
will do, and whether gaps in training contribute to attrition could 
also be addressed through funding.
    Knowledge/Experience Required: Applicants must demonstrate a strong 
knowledge of the issues associated with police recruitment, hiring, and 
retention. Additionally, any non-law enforcement agency applicants must 
have experience working with law enforcement agencies.

3. Volunteers in Police Service (B3)

Approximate Funding per Project: $50,000
    Purpose/Goal: In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President 
George W. Bush announced the creation of the USA Freedom Corps, which 
is an effort to foster a culture of service, citizenship, and 
responsibility, building on the generous spirit of the American people. 
The Citizen Corps programs are part of the USA Freedom Corps initiative 
and share the common goal of helping communities prevent, prepare for, 
and respond to crime, natural disasters, and other emergencies.
    One of the Citizen Corps programs is Volunteers in Police Service 
(VIPS), administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. The goal of 
VIPS is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to 
utilize volunteers. These civilian volunteers provide support for 
resource-constrained law enforcement agencies by supplementing their 
community's law enforcement professionals to free officers for 
frontline duty. Funding will be provided to enhance and 
institutionalize a volunteer in police service program within local 
police departments.
    Objectives/Expectations: To help expand the VIPS program, the COPS 
Office is seeking proposals from local law enforcement agencies to 
establish or enhance their volunteer program and recruitment efforts. 
Preliminary information from the VIPS program stresses the importance 
of a volunteer coordinator. An effective volunteer coordinator is often 
linked to a success of VIPS programs and funds from this grant can (but 
are not required) be used to help cover costs of this position. Among 
other items, funding may also be used for such things as advertisements 
and marketing of volunteer programs (including Web site development), 
activities associated with neighborhood watch and other resources for 
volunteer coordination, implementation, and evaluation efforts. 
Grantees will be required to attend a COPS Office VIPS-related training 
and should budget travel for 2 individuals to attend this training. Law 
enforcement agencies receiving funding must register with USA Freedom 
Corps as an official VIPS site.
    Deliverables/Outcomes: The primary outcome will be an operational 
volunteer in police service program that enhances the ability of the 
local police department to effectively provide public services. 
Grantees will provide a final report to the COPS Office documenting how 
the funding directly enhanced their volunteer program and the overall 
benefits to the agency, so that these efforts can be promoted and 
replicated in other law enforcement agencies.
    Knowledge/Experience Required: Applicants must be law enforcement 
agencies. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the Volunteers 
in Police Service program (www.policevolunteers.org) for additional 
information about programs that could possibly be replicated in their 
agency using this funding. Grantees must also express a strong 
commitment to maintain volunteer program efforts after grant 
expiration.

4. Topic Focused Law Enforcement Technology Guides (B4)

Approximate Funding: $250,000
    Purpose/Goal: While the benefits of implementing technology are 
obvious, the obstacles to getting the most from that technology often 
are not. In a time when growing responsibilities greatly increase the 
duties of local law enforcement agencies, a natural response is to turn 
to technology as a force multiplier. However, there are a limited 
number of technology resources that are specifically tailored for law 
enforcement. To meet the need for additional resources, in 2001 the 
COPS Office funded the development of a Law Enforcement Tech Guide, a 
comprehensive ``A to Z'' technology planning, acquisition, 
implementation and integration guide that helps agencies address crime 
and social disorder issues. This guide can be found on the COPS Office 
Web site at www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=512.
    The guide has been well received by the law enforcement community. 
However, there are numerous other issues in the area of law enforcement 
technology that could be addressed by similar guides. Funding will be 
provided to produce additional law enforcement technology guidebooks.
    Objectives/Expectations: To meet these evolving needs, the COPS 
Office is seeking proposals for the development of multiple technology-
specific guidebooks for law enforcement. Topics that may be addressed 
include, but are not limited to, interoperability, crime mapping, 311, 
integration, technology training, managing change due to technology 
implementation, records management systems, and technology for the 
small/rural agencies.
    Deliverables/Outcomes: Applicants will produce guidebooks designed 
for a law enforcement audience on multiple technology-specific topics.
    Knowledge/Experience Required: The applicants should address their 
knowledge and experience in the area of information systems 
implementation in law enforcement environments.
    Proposals should also demonstrate the applicant's knowledge and 
experience regarding the specific topics of the guidebooks being 
proposed and the ability to write for a law enforcement audience.

5. 311 for Homeland Security and Crisis Management (B5)

Approximate Funding per Project: $300,000
    Purpose/Goal: Since 9/11 homeland security concerns have prompted 
the Administration to call on citizens to be vigilant. In addition, 
recent domestic criminal events, such as the October 2002 sniper 
attacks in the Washington Metropolitan Area, have further illustrated 
the need to encourage citizen information sharing for crime prevention 
and crime solving. The effects of such heightened awareness and calls 
for citizen participation have resulted, in part, in a 911 system 
challenged to keep up with calls from concerned citizens, many of whom 
use 911 as their primary vehicle to initiate contact with the police or 
other public service agencies.
    311 Public Service Model non-emergency call systems can support and 
be integrated into homeland security and emergency preparedness plans 
and policies. 311 systems can be especially effective when they allow 
for coordinated efforts and information sharing between multiple public 
service agencies (e.g., transportation, health, sanitation, victim 
services etc.). 311 systems can support emergency management efforts 
and enhance public service agency response efforts to prepare for 
emergencies.
    Proposals are being sought from law enforcement agencies prepared 
to establish a Public Service Model 311 non-emergency call system that 
includes multiple public service agencies such as law enforcement, EMS, 
transportation, health, sanitation, victim

[[Page 27849]]

services etc. for the purposes of improving homeland security and 
crisis management plans and practice. Funding is available for 
equipment (hardware and software) necessary to establish a Public 
service Model 311 non-emergency call system and for an impact 
evaluation of such a system. Funding is available to law enforcement 
agencies currently operating within jurisdictions that do not have a 
311 system or those interested in expanding a law enforcement only 311 
system into one that includes multiple public service agencies.
    Objectives/Expectations: This project would require applicants to:
    1. Establish a Public Service model 311 system involving multiple 
public service agencies, designing this non-emergency communication 
system to fill current gaps in information sharing between public 
service agencies and enhance the effectiveness of current homeland 
security and crisis management plans.
    2. Develop innovative ideas for improving emergency dispatching, 
call prioritization, and records management systems.
    3. Evaluate the impact of the 311 system on homeland security and 
crisis management plans and provide results of the evaluation to public 
safety personnel (including first-responders), other public service 
agencies, and the community-at-large. The evaluation should clearly 
demonstrate the utility of 311 in homeland security and crisis 
management.
    Deliverables/Outcomes: Deliverables will include an operational 
Public Service Model 311 system (that includes multiple public service 
agencies). An impact evaluation is expected to be completed six months 
after the system has become operational and should be budgeted for.
    Knowledge/Experience Required: Proposals should include the 
following items:
    1. Applicants may apply for funding to either start-up a 311 system 
that includes multiple public service agencies or to expand current law 
enforcement only 311 systems. Due to the focus on developing 
cooperation and accountability between multiple public service 
agencies, jurisdictions currently operating a multi-agency Public 
Service Model 311 system are ineligible for funding under this topic.
    2. Funding may be contingent on the current technological 
infrastructure of the applicant agency. Applicants must provide details 
of current technological infrastructure available to support the 
project.
    3. Applicants must provide a demonstration of need, showing that a 
Public Service Model 311 non-emergency system will aid in the 
development of Homeland Security and Crisis Management plans and 
practice. This demonstration of need should be included as a separate 
document (no longer than 15 double-spaced typed pages) and will not 
count towards the proposal page limit.
    4. Applicants must demonstrate that they have secured support from 
the primary stakeholders, including government executives, and at least 
two non-public safety agency executives. Stakeholders must have 
determined that a Public Service Model 311 system involving multiple 
public agencies will benefit the homeland security and crisis 
management plans and practices of the jurisdiction.
    5. Applicants must address the implications of utilizing a 311 
system for homeland security and crisis management efforts on current 
organizational processes, delineating each affected agency. The 
potential impact of 311 on police non-emergency calls must be described 
in the proposal.
    6. Applicants must demonstrate the availability of in-kind 
contributions for establishing this system. This information is 
necessary, as the cost of most 311 systems will most likely exceed the 
amount of COPS-funding available.
    7. Smaller law enforcement agencies are encouraged to partner with 
one or more neighboring jurisdictions in this effort.

C. Evaluations

1. Evaluation of MORE Grant Effectiveness (C1)

Approximate Funding: $200,000
    Purpose/Goal: The COPS MORE (Making Officer Redeployment Effective) 
program is one of several approaches developed by the COPS Office to 
increase the deployment of law enforcement officers devoted to 
community policing. COPS MORE grants have been used to purchase law 
enforcement technology. One primary requirement of COPS MORE is that 
the time-savings experienced by officers as a result of the additional 
technology must result in redeployment into community policing 
activities. Some examples of the types of time-saving technology 
purchased through MORE grants include: mobile data terminals, record 
management systems, computer aided dispatch systems, and automated 
fingerprint identification systems.
    Over the past seven years, the COPS Office has also recognized that 
technology can result in increased officer effectiveness. This 
increased effectiveness contributes to the overall COPS aim of reducing 
crime and social disorder through community policing.
    Last year the COPS Office funded 295 agencies under the COPS MORE 
2002 program. while MORE grantees were previously required to track and 
report time-savings and redeployment resulting from their grant, this 
requirement was removed under MORE 2002. while time-savings and 
redeployment still occur, the COPS Office is interested in an 
evaluation that will document or estimate the full-time equivalents 
(FTE's) redeployed, as well as the impacts of these technologies on 
department operations, communication, and community policing.
    Objectives/Expectations: The COPS Office is seeking proposals that 
seek to document the efficiencies and effectiveness outcomes created as 
a result of the technology funded under the COPS MORE 2002 program.
    Deliverables/Outcomes: The applicant will be expected to produce 
documentation that examines the efficiencies created as a result of the 
MORE 2002 program, and also examine and document any increases in 
effectiveness resulting from the program. The project deliverable(s) 
should also inform the profession on these findings in the form of a 
guidebook that will assist law enforcement agencies in achieving 
maximum efficiency and effectiveness with these technologies. This 
guidebook should demonstrate how to realize the desired results; 
provide instruction on police technologies based on the documented 
experiences of these grantees; and develop a model for agencies to use 
to self-evaluate their technology projects.
    Knowledge/Experience Required: Applicants should demonstrate their 
knowledge of the COPS MORE program and of other technology-related 
outcomes beyond time-savings. Proposals should also provide a summary 
of the evaluation design and methods that would be used to measure 
effectiveness and efficiencies generated as a result of COPS MORE 
grants.

2. Analysis of COPS Start-Up Agencies (C2)

Approximate Funding: $150,000
    Purpose/Goal: The COPS Office has provided funding to approximately 
300 jurisdictions to initiate the development of police departments. 
These ``start-up'' agencies provide an opportunity to learn more about 
the factors associated with the implementation and initiation of

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police departments and community policing activities in smaller 
settings.
    Objectives/Expectations: The COPS Office is seeking proposals that 
examine the nature of these COPS funded start-up law enforcement 
agencies, trace their history, and document impediments and 
facilitators to the institutionalization of community oriented police 
services in smaller settings.
    Deliverables/Outcomes: Applicants will be expected to produce a 
final report documenting the nature of COPS funded start-up law 
enforcement agencies and a guidebook aimed at assisting the development 
of police agencies in smaller settings. This guidebook should highlight 
important factors that should be taken into consideration when 
``starting-up'' a police department and provide guidance on how to best 
effectively accomplish this task.
    Knowledge/Experience Required: The applicant should have working 
knowledge of policing in smaller settings and the processes and 
procedures involved in initiating the development of an effective 
police department.

3. Managing Local Evaluations: A Guide for Law Enforcement (C3)

Approximate Funding: $100,000
    Purpose/Goal of Proposed Project: Law enforcement is frequently 
called upon to provide evaluation information regarding local public 
safety efforts. Some agencies employ in-house evaluators, but many must 
seek external assistance from local universities or with private 
consultants. In some cases, evaluations that are conducted may not 
adequately meet the needs of the law enforcement agency.
    This project will assist law enforcement agencies in providing 
funding for and in conducting and utilizing program evaluations.
    Objectives/Expectations of Proposed Project: Proposals are being 
sought to develop a Law Enforcement Practitioner Guide to Managing 
Local Evaluations. This guide should assist law enforcement agencies 
through the evaluation process from start to finish-from how to select 
an evaluator, the managing on-going evaluations, to evaluating the 
final deliverable. Possible issues to be addressed include how to best 
communicate needs to potential evaluators, the types of documents that 
should be obtained and reviewed prior to selecting an evaluator, and 
how to best formulate a contract with an evaluator. The benefits of 
securing and speaking with references, the need for a detailed research 
plan, the importance of selecting the right agency official to work 
with the evaluator, and how to address whether an evaluator will meet 
their needs should also be discussed. The guide may also help the law 
enforcement practitioner understand the true costs of evaluations, 
predict potential budget pitfalls, and discuss how to spot trouble 
early-on and what to do in situations of non-compliance. Finally, the 
guide should help law enforcement practitioners generally understand 
how to apply the findings of an effective evaluation.
    Deliverables/Outcomes: The primary deliverable is a publishable 
copy of a Law Enforcement Practitioner Guide to Managing Local 
Evaluations.
    Specific Knowledge/Experience Required: Applicants must demonstrate 
a through understanding of the evaluation process and ability to write 
content for a law enforcement auidence. They must have documented 
program evaluation experience. A sample of an original published or 
unpublished program evaluation should be included with the application. 
This writing sample will not count towards the proposal page limit.

4. Analysis of COPS Police Integrity Initiative (C4)

Approximately Funding: $500,000
    Purpose/Goal: This request is presented in two parts. Proposals 
should address both parts.

Part I:

    The COPS Office is seeking the development of a comprehensive 
product that will summarize and highlight current work being done by 
COPS grantees to prevent racial profiling and to increase trust between 
police and citizens. In Fiscal Year 2001, the COPS Office funded (21) 
police departments under the Promoting Cooperative Strategies to Reduce 
Racial Profiling initiative to develop strategies that would address 
racial profiling. These strategies include:
    [sbull] Collecting and analyzing traffic-stop data;
    [sbull] Accountability and supervision;
    [sbull] Recruitment and selection;
    [sbull] Training and education of police and citizens;
    [sbull] Using technology to prevent racial profiling; and
    [sbull] Minority community engagement initiatives.
    At the conclusion of these projects, each of the 21 police 
departments will produce a technical assistance guide that will 
document lessons learned and model practices that can be replicated by 
other law enforcement agencies. The technical assistance guides will be 
developed so that other police-community partnerships can benefit from 
the lessons learned when addressing police integrity issues. In that 
regard, these technical assistance guides are intended to include what 
worked, what did not work, the barriers to project implementation, 
solutions to obstacles in solving problems, and a discussion on how the 
project strengthened police integity, police-community relationships, 
and the related impact on racial profiling prevention.

Part II:

    The COPS Office is also seeking a preliminary assessment of current 
work being done by COPS grantees to create cultures of integrity. In 
Fiscal Year 2002, the COPS Office funded 60 law enforcement agencies to 
develop a strategy that would support a culture of integrity, and 41 
state chiefs' and sheriffs' associations to host police integrity 
training workshops at their annual meetings. The law enforcement 
strategy areas include:
    [sbull] Use of force policy and training;
    [sbull] Development of early intervention systems;
    [sbull] Mapping integrity violations and related interventions;
    [sbull] Self assessment techniques for internal monitoring;
    [sbull] Strengthening internal affairs division operations;
    [sbull] Improving citizen complaint processes;
    [sbull] Utilizing a civilian review board;
    [sbull] Command staff integrity training;
    [sbull] Ensuring accountability to the community;
    [sbull] Outreach to minority youth;
    [sbull] Traffic stop data collection; and
    [sbull] Recruiting quality recruits from local communities.
    The association strategy areas include:
    [sbull] Integrity training to support community policing;
    [sbull] Homeland security and police integrity;
    [sbull] Building public trust and confidence;
    [sbull] Integrity challenges to police leadership; and
    [sbull] Developing policy that strengthens integrity.
    For more information on the COPS Police Integrity Initiatives, 
please visit the COPS Web site at: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Deault.asp?Open=True&Item=393

    Objectives/Expectations:

Part I:

    In order to maximize the work being done in the field through this 
important initiatives, the COPS Office is seeking

[[Page 27851]]

the development of a comprehensive product that will summarize and 
highlight varied approaches across the six strategy areas under the 
Promoting Cooperative Strategies to Reduce Racial Profiling initiative. 
This project will require the applicant to:
    [sbull] Provide on-site and/or telephone technical assistance to 
the agencies, if necessary, to assist in the completion of the final 
technical assistance guides;
    [sbull] Review the 21 technical assistance guides for the purpose 
of compiling successes, model practices and lessons learned during 
strategy development/enhancement and implementation;
    [sbull] Incorporate the following information/discussion into the 
final product:
    (1) The impact of the strategies on the reduction and/or prevention 
of racial profiling and the perceptions of its practice;
    (2) How strategy development and implementation contributed to 
building trust between police and citizens and to advancing community 
policing;
    (3) Recommendations and considerations for other agencies that are 
interested in replicating these strategies.

Part II:

    This project will require the applicant to:
    [sbull] Work with the COPS Office to develop a preliminary 
assessment plan for documenting the progress of 101 grantees funded 
under the Creating a Culture of Integrity initiative;
    [sbull] Submit a final report that discusses the following 
information:
    (1) How COPS funding was used to meet project goals and objectives;
    (2) Successes and challenges in developing and implementing the 
projects;
    (3) The impact of the funding on advancing police integrity and 
creating cultures of integrity.

    Deliverable/Outcomes:

Part I:

    The applicant will be expected to produce a comprehensive final 
product that will summarize the experiences of the 21 police 
departments in developing their strategy under the Promoting 
Cooperative Strategies to Reduce Racial Profiling initiative, and the 
related impact on advancing community policing and racial profiling 
prevention. This product will provide an overview of varied approaches 
to addressing this significant issue for other law enforcement agencies 
that are interested in replicating these strategies.

Part II:

    The applicant will be expected to conduct a preliminary assessment 
of 101 law enforcement agencies and police chiefs' and sheriffs' 
associations funded under the Creating a Culture of Integrity 
initiative. The purpose of this assessment will be to assist the COPS 
Office in documenting the progress of these pilot projects. The COPS 
office will expect a final report that discusses the outcomes of the 
preliminary assessment.
    Knowledge/Experience Required: In addition to the general criteria 
listed in the solicitation, the applicant should address knowledge and 
experience in the areas of police integrity and racial profiling. In 
addition, the applicant should address knowledge and experience in each 
of the six strategy topic areas under the Promoting Cooperative 
Strategies to Reduce Racial Profiling initiative. The applicant should 
demonstrate a thorough understanding of community policing, and the 
importance of mutual trust and respect between police and citizens in 
order to strengthen police integrity and to advance the principles of 
community policing. Applicants should also have a demonstrated 
awareness of the COPS Police Integrity Initiatives.
    How To Apply. Those interested in submitting an application in 
response to this solicitation must complete a Community Policing 
Development Application Packet. A detailed project description that is 
responsive to the criteria presented above must be included under 
section I of the packet. In this project description also discuss your 
management plan for implementing this project with respect to internal 
and external management of personnel and resources and your experience 
with managing grants and cooperative agreements. Resumes of key project 
staff/named consultants (relevant experience for the proposed project 
should be highlighted) should also be included and does not count 
towards the page limit.
    Applicants may submit distinct multiple applications for different 
topic areas or propose projects that effectively combine topic areas. 
However, each distinct project must be described in detail in a 
separate Community Policing Development Application Packet with 
original signatures.
    Notice of Intent To Apply: Please fax the accompanying notice of 
intent to reply form to the COPS Office, indicating the topic area(s) 
you are planning to apply under. The letter should be faxed to the 
attention of Angel Winters at 202-616-8658 no later than June 2, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Applications for this solicitation are due to the COPS 
Office by June 30, 2003 by 6 p.m. Please submit an original application 
package (with original signatures) and four copies to: U.S. Department 
of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 1100 
Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20530, Attn: Angel Winters, PPSE.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Please contact Angel Winters at (202) 
514-9199 to obtain additional information about the solicitation. 
Application forms and information regarding the COPS Office are also 
available by calling the U.S. Department of Justice Response Center at 
1-800-421-6770 or by visiting the COPS Office Internet Web site at 
www.cops.usdoj.gov.

(The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) reference for 
this program is 16.710.)

    Dated: May 5, 2003.
Carl R. Peed,
Director, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
[FR Doc. 03-12692 Filed 5-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-AT-M