Ep. 73: Transformative Policing and Community Empowerment, Special Guest Brendan Cox, Director of Policing Strategies LEAD Support Bureau

Educational Equity Emancipation

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve deep into the transformative world of policing and community justice. Join us as we engage with Brendan Cox, a retired police chief and director of policing strategies, who discusses the innovative Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) initiatives. Cox shares his personal journey from being a community member to a law enforcement leader, emphasizing the crucial need for understanding diverse perspectives in public safety.
Key Takeaways:

1. Shift to Community-Centered Policing: Focus on integrating diverse perspectives and collaborating with communities to enhance public safety.
2. Building Trust with Youth: Importance of initiatives like the Youth Police Initiative in fostering understanding and trust between police and inner-city youth.
3. Tackling Systemic Barriers: Recognizing the need to address systemic issues such as racial disparities, housing, and education, which impact marginalized communities.
4. Holistic Social Issue Approaches: Advocating for comprehensive support in tackling social issues, beyond traditional law enforcement methods.
5. Inclusive Policy-making: The importance of involving both policymakers and frontline officers to ensure practical and effective policies.
6. Youth-Focused Harm Reduction: Understanding the complexities of applying harm reduction strategies for different age groups, especially youth.

Chief (Ret.) Brendan Cox is the Director of Policing Strategies at the LEAD Support Bureau where he provides strategic guidance on the operation of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion/Let Everyone Advance with Dignity to jurisdictions around the world. Prior to the Support Bureau, Brendan had a twenty-three-year career with the Albany, New York police department, where he retired as Chief of Police in 2017. Under Brendan’s leadership the department was recognized by the Department of Justice as one of the top 15 police departments in the country within the COPS Advancing 21st Century Policing Initiative.
Brendan has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Dayton and a Master of Public Administration from Marist College. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. He is a member of New York State’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Group and Council of Community Justice.
Brendan is an adjunct professor with the State University of New York at Delhi. He is an Executive Fellow with the National Police Institute, a member of the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association and a board member for the Law Enforcement Action Partnership.
He and his wife Ann have two children, Connor and Spencer.
Contact Info:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-cox-a0977340/
leadbureau.org
518-229-5711
Threads: @alberryconsulting
TikTok: @almitraberry
Email info: @askdrberry.com
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