January 2026: Enhancing Community Trust

Enhancing community trust begins within agencies and extends outward through openness, accountability, and genuine engagement. Leaders are embracing integrity-driven practices, wellness-focused recruitment, and programs that humanize policing. These approaches reveal a clear path toward stronger relationships and more resilient communities.

 GUEST EDITOR: Hope Miller

Articles

• Authentic Leadership

  By Hector Ayala, Officer, Alton Police Department, Texas
  Every police leader knows the symptoms of distrust and ineffective leadership: burned out officers, low morale, and skeptical communities. In today’s climate, leadership built on authority a...

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• The Principles of Trust

  By Monique Brown, First Deputy Chef, Operations, Johns Hopkins Police Department, Maryland
  Photo by Brett Carlsen/Stringer/Getty Images In today’s complex social landscape, heightened scrutiny, ...

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• The Pathway to Community Trust

  By Steve Dye, Chief of Police, Allen Police Department, Texas
  As police leaders discuss, analyze, or contemplate enhancing public trust in their communities, they can first look at the level of community policing in their departments to find answers. Chiefs may ...

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• Know Me Before You Need Me

  By Greg Miraglia, Professor, President/CEO, Out to Protect Inc.
  In an era where community trust serves as the cornerstone of effective policing, police agencies across the globe are recognizing that building meaningful relationships with diverse communities requir...

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• The Dialogue of Trust

  By Arturo Pereira Cuadrado, Chief Mayor, Policía Municipal de Ponferrada, Spain
  The word “trust” is commonly used by people, but it has several meanings. The one that applies to the context of policing refers to firm hope placed in someone. Trust is essentia...

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