Arlington, TX: A Community Policing Story Arlington, TX - A Community Policing Story | Page 10

are why the department was selected by the US Department of Justice and the Office of
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as “an exemplary implementation
model for the . . . Task Force on 21st Century Policing.” 4
Law enforcement agencies, civic leaders, and community organizations can incorporate a
screening of the film Arlington, TX: A Community Policing Story into police-community
events, internal training sessions, and other meetings to
◾ ◾ strengthen relationships between law enforcement and communities through investment in
trust-building events, practices, and programs;
◾ ◾ establish transparency, accountability, and opportunities for sustained dialogue between law
enforcement and communities in times of crisis;
◾ ◾ discuss relationship building as a foundation for crime prevention, violence reduction, and
other local issues in the context of community-oriented policing. 
This film and its accompanying screening guide are a part of a project titled The Guardians:
Stories of 21st Century Policing, a collaboration between Not In Our Town (NIOT) and the
COPS Office. To access all available film resources and tools, visit NIOT’s online hub at
www.NIOT.org/COPS.
The Guardians: Stories of 21st Century Policing
As views of law enforcement and the communities it serves become increasingly polarized around
the country, NIOT is collaborating with the COPS Office to share real-life examples of police-
community partnerships that build public trust, reduce crime, and increase safety for residents
and officers alike.
Based on recommendations from The Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which President Obama
appointed in 2014, resources from The Guardians: Stories of 21st Century Policing initiative include
an online hub at www.NIOT.org/COPS, a series of new films and guidebooks highlighting successful
practices, and a network of law enforcement leaders committed to spreading community policing
strategies that promote safety and inclusion for all.
The films (1) capture the nuance and difficulty of real police work, (2) provide realistic and meaning-
ful examples of how community-oriented policing works and why it is effective, and (3) serve as tools
to spark discussion and action through officer trainings and community screenings. Arlington, TX:
A Community Policing Story is the second film released through the project.
4. Arlington Police Department, “Arlington Police Chosen to Lead Efforts in Advancing Policing Practices around the
Country,” News, City of Arlington, May 26, 2016, http://www.arlington-tx.gov/news/2016/05/23/arlington-police-
chosen-to-lead-efforts