Community Policing Institute (RCPI) | West Virginia State University

West Virginia's Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) was established in 1997 when a partnership of state agencies obtained federal grant money to initially fund the Institute. Over the years, what has now become the WVSU RCPI of West Virgiinia, has trained many law enforcement officers in the region via in-service style workshops and other training venues. RCPI staff provide the training quite often in a selected town near several agencies. Trainees also occasionally visit the campus of West virginia State University (WVSU).

West Virginia has approximately 272 law enforcement agencies that serve 1.8 million residents. The majority of these law enforcement departments are very small, consisting of between two and five members. County and state law enforcement officers are often responsible for large rural jurisdictions with difficult mountainous terrain. The WV RCPI helps overcome these challenges by integrating community policing concepts into basic and in-service training for state and local law enforcement officers at the State Police Academy and other training sessions made available to officers and community members throughout the state.

Community Policing

Community-oriented policing is a strategy that build on fundamental policing practices with an emphasis on crime prevention, problem-solving and citizen involvement.

This includes moving away from incident-driven law enforcement and focusing on addressing issues and predicting ways to prevent problems before they occur. Officers actively working with citizens can identify, understand and devise possible solutions to problems in their community.

In 1994, the Violent Crime Control & Law Enforcement Act authorized funds to promote this policing strategy, as well as put 100,000 more police officers on the streets. To carry out these initiatives, the US Department of Justice created the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS). Regional Community Policing Institutes are part of a national network of RCPIs created and funded by the COPS Office to facilitate community policing at the state and local level. The RCPI is called upon to train law enforcement officers about new codes that are adopted to keep practices current.

Mission

The WV RCPI strive to provide quality community-oriented policing training and technical assistance; enhance the public safety and citizen perception of public policing as the primary method for delivery safety services; and become a national source of information on the topic.. If your agency is interested in seeking the services offered by the WV RCPI at West Virginia State University, contact Mr. Larry L. Nelson, Director, at lnelson@wvstateu.edu or telephone him at 304-766-3280.

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