In 2023, Atlanta-based MovementForward, Inc. (MFI) — parent organization of the acclaimed National Faith & Blue Weekend (Faith & Blue), the One Congregation One Precinct (OneCOP) initiative, and the Law Enforcement Community Engagement Network (LECEN) — in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), and other premier national law enforcement organizations, convened the inaugural Professionalizing Law Enforcement–Community Engagement Training (PLECET) National Conference. Over the past three years since its inception, the conference has featured an exceptional group of instructors, speakers, presenters, subject-matter experts, scholars, researchers, and community engagement practitioners with demonstrated success in the field.

Research has shown, and community members and law enforcement professionals overwhelmingly agree, that enhanced and expanded training for community-focused public safety personnel is essential to reducing crime, building trust, improving officer safety and wellness, strengthening recruitment and retention efforts, and advancing meaningful community collaboration. While improved academy and in-service instruction on topics such as de-escalation, mental health, human trafficking, and opioid overdoses is increasingly common across the nation, the same level of structured training does not exist for community engagement, community affairs/relations, outreach, or community policing.

Both communities and law enforcement recognize that strong, authentic partnerships are more critical than ever to public safety. Yet there remains a lack of training and professional development opportunities for community engagement roles within the public safety profession. Many agencies participate in community outreach programming such as National Faith & Blue Weekend, Police Athletic Leagues, Coffee with a Cop, National Night Out, Shop with a Cop, and citizen police academies, but historically there has been no comprehensive recruit or in-service training designed specifically for personnel tasked with building and sustaining community involvement. This stands in stark contrast to specialized units such as forensics, narcotics, school safety, fleet maintenance, investigations, hostage negotiation, and public information, all of which benefit from targeted training, peer support, industry expertise, and access to best practices. Community engagement should be regarded with the same level of respect, prioritization, and professional rigor as every other specialized function within law enforcement.

Grounded in the tenets of Intergroup Contact Theory, the 2026 PLECET National Conference will continue the essential work of professionalizing the critical and highly specialized community engagement sector of the law enforcement profession. While designed primarily for line-level personnel assigned to community engagement functions, the 2026 conference will also draw agency heads, line supervisors, researchers, municipal officials, nonprofit representatives, communications professionals, technologists, and others committed to advancing community-focused public safety.

During the PLECET Conference, community engagement practitioners will learn about best and promising practices, evidence-based approaches, and effective resources that will help them excel in their roles. Participants will also have opportunities for both formal and informal networking with professionals from across the nation, creating immediate and long-term professional development pathways. The conference will feature a balanced structure of classroom instruction, workshops, caucuses, and plenary sessions, with designated times for networking. Following an opening plenary session featuring prominent national leaders, each participant will complete eight separate instructional courses built on a structured curriculum designed to equip community engagement personnel with best-in-class competencies to maximize their impact.

Conference attendees will represent local, state, federal, tribal, transit, campus, and prosecutorial agencies from across the United States. Lunch will be provided on-site daily and is included with conference registration.

Every year, MovementForward, Inc. receives inquiries from community engagement leads who are eager to organize impactful community events but lack the necessary training or technical capacity to maximize these opportunities. While many agencies have admirable program ideas, they often lack the expertise, organizational infrastructure, and resources to fully implement them. Most personnel have never received formal instruction on how to effectively engage community members or how to promote and leverage their outreach programs, events, and ongoing activities. Others have successfully executed meaningful events but now want the knowledge to convert those activities into long-term and sustainable strategic partnerships that reduce crime and build trust. These and other training gaps are precisely what the 2026 PLECET National Conference in Dallas, Texas, is designed to address.