Transforming public safety and policing

October 20, 2020

The Yale Police Department (YPD) aspires to lead the way in transforming policing on college campuses. Work started on this last fall when we engaged a team of recognized experts on public safety, 21CP Solutions, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of our campus police department. After holding in-depth listening sessions with community and campus stakeholders and analyzing existing policing practices, they produced a report that helped us take a series of initial actions.

Leadership reviewed the report carefully and is now working to implement the suggested changes. Chief Higgins has asked Senior Vice President Jack Callahan; Kerwin Charles, Indra K. Nooyi Dean of the Yale School of Management; Lauren Zucker, Associate Vice President for New Haven Affairs and University Properties; and Secretary and Vice President Kimberly Goff-Crews to make suggestions regarding the continued implementation of the 21CP recommendations and beyond.

YPD leadership will work closely with this task force to review quantitative and descriptive data from the YPD and policing more generally, solicit input from members of the Yale and broader community, and analyze how other organizations have approached police reform.

This group will consider the mission and goals of the Yale Police Department and ensure that current university operations and policies are aligned with them. The members of this task force will also confer with campus experts on policing and racial injustice to seek their advice on university policing for the future. Our dedicated and hardworking officers deserve our full engagement in helping them protect and serve our community.

Look for future updates in the Inside Public Safety newsletter.