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Independence police finding new ways to tackle homelessness

Kevin Holmes

April 16, 2019 |

KSHB-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Independence, Missouri

The Independence, Missouri police department is taking an empathy-first approach to homelessness in the city. Instead of making arrests for trespassing or other crimes associated with homelessness, police officers work with the individuals to provide them with the resources they need to get back on their feet.

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Some Local Police Departments Are Understaffed. These Volunteers Are Helping Fill the Ranks

Joshua O'Connor

April 02, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Police departments across the country are seeing decreased funding – but an increase in public participation. Volunteers in Public Service, or VIPs, have stepped in to help fill the gaps in staffing left by budget cuts. They’re private citizens, volunteering their time to police departments by operating speed monitors, staffing desks and kiosks, and helping with neighborhood watch.

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Calif. newsrooms team up to handle police misconduct records dump

Tony Biasotti

March 27, 2019 |

Columbia Journalism Review |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

When a new California law unlocked the disciplinary records on misconduct from 700 police agencies statewide, competing news organizations formed the California Reporting Project to accomplish as a team what would have been daunting, if not impossible, for each news organization individually: compile a database of all the records as they are released. Just months into the project, the resulting news stories informed the public of officers who escaped serious consequences for misconduct, and whose careers benefited from keeping the public unaware.

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Llano barricade protocol investigated after woman swept away in flood

Erin Cargile

March 26, 2019 |

KXAN-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Llano, Texas

In Texas, smaller towns are looking to one another for ideas to prevent dangerous encounters with flash flooding. Travis County is one such place, using multi-layered approaches to prevent drivers from crossing flooded areas and requiring deputies to carry water rescue kits in their cars. After the death of one woman, the town of Llano is considering new approaches, like more visible barricades.

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The woman in search of Indian Country's missing

Jessica Lussenhop

March 25, 2019 |

High Country News |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Fort Berthold Reservation, United States, North Dakota

Native individuals and members of groups like Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women have taken it into their own hands to find members of their communities who have gone missing. Recognizing that decades-old legislation often under-prioritizes tribal lands, indigenous populations have turned to grassroots efforts and social media to form their own search parties – and are seeing results.

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With vast records of police misconduct now public, California news outlets are collaborating instead of competing

Joshua Benton

March 20, 2019 |

Nieman Lab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

More than 30 California news organizations collaborated to gain access to, and publish news stories about, previously secret police disciplinary cases. Filing more than 1,100 records requests with more than 600 law enforcement agencies, members of the California Reporting Project leveraged each others' resources rather than competing to tackle the massive reporting project made possible by a new state transparency law. The collaboration is an example of local and regional partnerships that have helped a struggling news industry still cover local and state government news.

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North Carolina working to erase biggest rape kit backlog in nation

Kate Martin Imari Scarbrough

March 20, 2019 |

Carolina Public Press |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Fayetteville, North Carolina

With the largest backlog of rape kits in the country, North Carolina is taking steps to expedite the process. A key challenge in this effort is the autonomy of police departments to test them at their own discretion. Still, cities like Fayetteville are making headway and seeing results, namely, 37 arrests. On the state level, a bipartisan bill is in motion that would designate $6 million for testing rape kits.

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Police accountability: Statewide media coalition pushing hard to acquire police records

Sukey Lewis Thomas Peele Alex Emslie

March 19, 2019 |

San Jose Mercury News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

A new California law requiring that police departments make public their records of police officers' misconduct revealed numerous cases that had not been known before. Police unions and state and local governments sought protection in the courts from having to disclose the records, but when they lost those challenges the records began coming out. The California Reporting Project formed as a coalition of news organizations statewide that have teamed up to make full use of the new transparency law. The project filed hundreds of records requests seeking more disclosures.

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New software to help KCPD identify crime risk areas

Andres Gutierrez

March 19, 2019 |

KSHB-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

In Kansas City, Missouri, the police department has been using crime data to strategically understand which areas require more resources. This model, which has been used since 2012 and has led to a 12% decrease in violent crimes, is being expanded upon. New technology called “risk-terrain modeling” helps police officers work more proactively to change environments, like lighting on certain corners, to prevent crime.

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New Independence Street Crimes Unit already making an impact

Kevin Holmes

March 07, 2019 |

KSHB-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Independence, Missouri

In Independence, Missouri, the police department has developed the Street Crimes Unit devoted entirely to addressing crime in the city. Taking a proactive, data-driven approach, law enforcement has been able to devote more time and resources to closing criminal investigations.

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