Maryland Natural Resources Police undergo DOJ assessment for operational improvements

BALTIMORE -- The Justice Department's Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has announced plans to conduct an Organizational Assessment of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) as part of its Collaborative Reform Initiative.

The Organizational Assessment program offers comprehensive technical assistance to enhance the fairness and effectiveness of law agency operations, fostering trust within the communities they serve. 

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the program involves thorough assessments and ongoing support to identify areas for improvement and strengthen agency capabilities. By continuously evaluating progress, the assessment ensures that resources are spent efficiently and improvements are implemented quickly.  

Additionally, the process emphasizes transparency and accountability through regular public reporting and community feedback. Each assessment will be conducted by a team of experts, including specialists in law enforcement, community engagement, research, program management, and organizational reform.

Over the next year, Maryland NRP and the COPS Collaborative Reform Initiative Team will target:

• Community Policing
• Workforce Development
• Strategic Planning
• Employee Wellness
• Technology, Data, and Organizational Learning

The program is voluntary and offered at the request of law enforcement agencies seeking to improve their services and operations.

"Every law enforcement agency can benefit by taking an in-depth look at the work of its department and seeing what's working and where there are opportunities for improvement," said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. "Focusing on key areas such as workforce development and employee wellness are critical for an agency to continue to grow and improve." 

The COPS office provides expert services to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies through its Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs. 

According to a press release, the agency's goal is to build better trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve while improving operational efficiencies and effectiveness, enhancing officer safety and wellness, building agencies' capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement, and promoting community policing practices nationwide.

"I applaud the Maryland Natural Resources Police for voluntarily taking on the work of applying these tenets to its operation,"  said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer.

The COPS Office is responsible for advancing community policing nationwide.