Democratic Police Reform Republic of Panama

Program Goal • As a facilitator in a developing democracy,

• through world partnerships with brother police agencies,

• help bring about a democratic, non-military and effective national police agency, and,

• help shape this agency into a one that uses democratic community-based policing and technology to lower crime, disorder and fear of crime.

Why Democratic Policing?

Helps Prevent Caudillerismo; Autocrats flourish where local govt. is weak

Local officials involved in problem-solving

Local officials feel empowered/responsible

Citizens see cause/effect – lower crime and fear

Local officials held accountable for results

Creates multiple inputs into local government

Hypothesis

• Change cannot occur where the executive opposes it

• Commodities - costly and rarely bring about change

• Police leadership LA/CA in particular is “top-down”

• Paradigm change rather than programs/pilots

• The key is in police management

• First focus is on the top leadership

• Reaching the Tipping Point

Panama

Explosive rise in crime in the 2000’s

President Torrijos anti-crime campaign platform

2004 National Security Workshop – CHDS/NDU

Presidential and Ministerial Approval

Director visits Boston and Miami Dade PDs

Work begins with PNP late 2004

Panama

Study of the PNP – Identify Levers and Obstacles

Decentralization & Elimination of Specialists

Formal partnerships with BPD, RISP, MDPD & OIJ (CR)

Development of Director and Executive Level Training Models for Management Change

Consulations with academic knowledge bases; NU, FIU, John Jay, UL and Sam Houston Univ.

PELSS/SEMAGEL

Police Executive Leadership Seminar Series

Focus on Director and Sub Director Level

Executive Study Format

Developed in partnership with MDPD

Part One: Problem-Oriented Policing and the SARA Model of Police Management.

Building on Success

Police Executive Leadership Seminar Series - PELSS

First US attempt at organizational change CA/LA

Peer to Peer, Cop to Cop

Partnerships with Police knowledge bases

6 PELSS cost $150,000

Cop to Cop creates informal feedback network

– PELSS I Panama

13 – 14, 2007January

PELSS/SEMAGEL II

PNP Changes Mission and Vision Statements 5 Weeks after PELSS I

Democratic Community Policing Institutionalized

Practical Experience in the SARA Model Develops into Nascent PNP COMPSTAT Management

President Torrijos Briefed on PNP Reform and Gives Complete Approval

PELSS/SEMAGEL III

Case Studies in Advanced Problem Solving

Boston – Gang Truce Initiative

PNP Metropolitan Division Creates Partnerships with Inner-City Faith Community

INCRIDEFA

Information de Crimenes, Denuncias y Faltas Administrativas

Nationwide Singular Crime Database

Digital Mapping of Crime in Real Time

Accurate Statistics & Evalutions – Transparency of Action/Results

Intelligence-Based Policing, Investigations and Recourse Allocation

SPI-PANAMA/CR

Partners: University of Louisville/SPI, MDPD, Boston PD, ULatina-Panama

5 weeks: Second-in-Command PNP and CR Fuerza Publica

Managing Police Change at Executive Level

SARA Model and Practicum

Development of COMPSTAT Internal Performance Measures

Thank You