Current SACOP Projects
SafeShield Project
www.theiacp.org/safeshield
During the 2002 midyear meeting of the Division of State Associations of Chiefs of Police (SACOP) in Park City, Utah, the SACOP membership overwhelmingly voted to adopt officer safety as a division project, and formed a committee to look into the problem. Initially named Peace Officer Safety and Technology (POST), this project was renamed SafeShield in 2005 to more accurately convey the sense of the project.
The SafeShield project critically examines the police uniform and looks at technology to improve the uniform as a protective/communication/information system. The goal is to have a design for the uniform that will incorporate protective systems into the uniform. This is a long-term project, which encourages imaginative, creative thinking to find ways to the ultimate goal of total police protection.
In addition to considering uniform improvements, the SafeShield project will review and recommend sound procedural policies, and advocate increasing and improving training, with the end goal of sending officers home safely every day.
Partners in this project have been carefully selected from many avenues. Corporate partners, IACP committees and experts in the field have lent their expertise on technological advances not yet available to the law enforcement community.
The SACOP Division is enthusiastic about this opportunity to increase officer safety, with the ultimate goal of zero officers killed or injured. This project brings together varied law enforcement groups and private industry representatives to increase the quality, availability, and effectiveness of officer safety products. It raises the awareness of the issue’s scope and severity, and will impact the law enforcement community by reducing the injuries suffered within its ranks.
Management Practices of State Associations
SACOP is now pursuing a long-standing interest: that of increasing management and leadership skills of the heads of the state associations. To that end, SACOP will continue to sponsor studies and workshops, as well as compile current management practices of the state associations. SACOP representatives will work toward formulating standards for management and leadership practices for their state associations.
For more information, contact SACOP Manager Erin Vermilye.