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This piece is part of The Ethical Urbanist, Next City’s new reported advice column. Creating more equitable, sustainable and liberated cities means confronting moral dilemmas head-on. And we want to help you think through them. If you have a question you want us to answer, submit it here.
Dear Next City team,
As a community organization, is it OK to collaborate with police departments? If so, what are things organizations should keep in mind?
Sincerely,
Considering Collaboration
When it comes to community work, the question often comes up: should organizations collaborate with police? It’s not an easy yes or no. There are clear benefits, but the risks are just as real. We have to consider what’s at stake for the people being served and what it means for the mission of the partnering organization.
The current state of policing in America is marked by a push for reform, fueled by concerns over racial disparities and police misconduct. Movements like Black Lives Matter have amplified calls for changes, including improved accountability, better training, and alternatives to traditional policing, such as community-based safety programs. While some advocate for major reforms or defunding the police, others resist these changes, emphasizing the need for law and order. There’s also the moral conundrum of whether partnerships between police and community organizations build trust or undermine reform.
Some organizations have found a way to make these partnerships work. Programs like the Faith Action ID initiative in Greensboro, North Carolina, show that collaboration can lead to tangible wins — helping undocumented individuals get identification that provides them with access to the city’s civic life, for example, and making it easier for officers to do their jobs without unnecessary arrests.
“It’s about building trust,” says Greensboro Police Officer Sgt. VH Sanchez during a recent webinar with Next City. “After about 10 minutes of conversation, people start asking questions about our policies and how we handle things.” For some communities, these partnerships can offer a way to access services without fear. There are also Police Athletic Leagues (PALs), which attempt to create safe spaces for kids through sports, mentorship, and educational programs, aiming to build trust between youth and law enforcement outside of traditional policing.
Additionally, law enforcement agencies tend to have more resources, thus a stronger ability to support community organizations.
Baltimore’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) takes a more direct approach to curbing gun violence by focusing on “individuals identified as being at the highest acute risk of involvement in gun violence,” according to the program website, and offering support and resources. Since launching in 2022, GVRS, which is a collaboration between social service providers, community members, and law enforcement, has contributed to Baltimore’s lowest homicide numbers in over a decade.
“I think the inclination to partner with law enforcement on something that doesn’t involve criminal activity is a reflection of how well-resourced law enforcement has been relative to other public institutions,” says Daniela Gilbert, director of the Redefining Public Safety initiative at Vera, a national organization focused on ending overcriminalization and mass incarceration.
“You could imagine a partnership with schools, libraries, or recreation centers that could achieve something similar. The main difference is that law enforcement is the only government agency that’s staffed in a way that involves any proactive outreach,” Gilbert continues. “And so I think the inclination to do that is illustrative of what we need more of, which are folks who are part of a public safety plan or strategy who are doing affirmative outreach toward a particular goal.”
At their best, these collaborations can provide a bridge, helping marginalized communities navigate a system that wasn’t built for them in the first place. But that bridge comes with weight.
Philadelphia-based abolitionist Stephanie Keene, who does not agree with working with law enforcement, voiced strong concerns about such partnerships. “We should never work with police to any end for any reason,” she says. “I just don’t trust the system to not manipulate that.” Her skepticism is grounded in historical precedent, where well-intentioned reforms have often been co-opted by law enforcement.
Keene also highlights the ethical dilemma of involving vulnerable populations, particularly children. “There’s no way to ethically get their consent to be involved,” she says. “If you as an adult are going to partner with police, that’s your choice to make, but I don’t think it’s fair or safe to involve children.”
Another major concern is the potential for mission drift. “The messaging will belong to the system. However they want to flip it and frame it, that’s what the public will see,” Keene says, emphasizing the risk of losing organizational control over the narrative.
If an organization does decide to work with police, they need to be crystal clear on their boundaries. Keene advises, “Have your bottom line from the outset. Know what you are not willing to compromise on.” Without that clarity, it’s easy to get swept up in the system and lose sight of the original goals.
Organizations also need an exit plan. If things go south — whether it’s a scandal or just mission drift — there should be a clear strategy to step away without harming the people they serve.
So, should organizations work with the police? It’s complicated. In some cases, partnerships can create short-term wins and open doors to critical services. But the long-term risks — the potential loss of trust, the ethical questions, the unintended consequences — are things that can’t be ignored.
The bottom line? Each organization has to ask itself whether it can navigate these complexities while staying true to its mission. Because at the end of the day, it’s about the people it serves — and they deserve its unwavering commitment.
This post is part of The Ethical Urbanist, Next City's reported column that explores the complex moral challenges that come up when working to make cities more liberated places. If you have a question you want us to answer, complete this form.