Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer has announced that his office’s Community Police Unification Program, a collaboration with the Los Angeles Police Department, was selected as the recipient of the 2017 National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award for the West Region.

Launched as a pilot project of Feuer’s Community Justice Initiative, the now permanent program promotes positive relationships between the LAPD and residents.

Volunteer mediators and staff from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office’s Community Police Unification Program recently accepted an award from the National Criminal Justice Association. (photo courtesy of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office)

“It can make a big difference to have a face-to-face conversation in a neutral setting with an officer with whom you’ve had a negative experience. Especially now, we need to foster positive interactions between community members and law enforcement,” Feuer said. “I thank the National Criminal Justice Association for recognizing the value of this restorative justice work. And I’m especially grateful the association has recognized our partners at LAPD, our volunteer mediators and our own Shaphan Roberts, who manages this program as director of our office’s Dispute Resolution Program.”

The Community Police Unification Program provides an opportunity for residents to resolve complaints about discourtesy and biased-policing through mediation. Meetings are facilitated by impartial volunteer mediators from the Dispute Resolution Program. Complaints are identified by the LAPD’s Internal Affairs Division.

Since mediation is voluntary, either party can opt out and choose to go through a standard investigation instead. Approximately 86 percent of the hundreds of residents who have gone through the program said they would recommend it to others.

“Each time a community member and officer see through the lens of the other, a small change takes place, and that’s what we’re after,” Roberts said. “I’m honored to be a part of a program that has produced so many great outcomes and thankful to the leadership, staff and mediators that make it all possible.”

The 2017 NCJA Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award for the West Region was presented as part of the 2017 National Forum on Criminal Justice.

“The ability to stand in another person’s shoes and view the world from their perspective is incredibly valuable, and that’s exactly what the Community Police Unification program provides,” LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.

Individuals interested in becoming volunteer mediators for the program are asked to email mediate@lacity.org. For information, visit lacityattorney.org.