Building trust and nurturing legitimacy on both sides of the police/citizen divide is the foundational principle underlying the nature of relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Research and practice demonstrate that people are more likely to obey the law when they believe that those who are enforcing it have authority that is perceived as legitimate by those subject to the authority.

The public confers legitimacy only on those whom they believe are acting in procedurally just ways. It is reinforced through a law enforcement culture that embraces a mindset centered on building trust and legitimacy both within agencies and with the public. Transparency, accountability, proactive engagement, tracking of progress, and a workforce reflective of the community are hallmarks of these efforts.

Examples of the ways the police department works to build trust and legitimacy in our community

• Outreach groups and events are supported by the department, including National Night Out, Basketball in the Park, Coffee with a Cop, Fishing with a Cop, Skateapalooza, Cops ‘n’ Kids Holiday Shopping, IFTAR dinner, safety camp, Toys for Tots, Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, Backpacks for Kids, St. Louis Park Adult Options in Education and the New Americans Academy.
• An internal system was developed that supports the department's participation in the Northstar Juvenile Diversion Program.
• Department policies support the elements of trust and legitimacy by valuing sanctity of life and thoughtful attention to use-of-force strategies, which are reinforced through training and reporting.
• Procedural justice and bias awareness trainings are provided to department members.
• The department participates in and coordinates the Pathways to Policing program which identifies, recruits and hires non-traditional candidates into policing.
• Youth are supported and provided leadership skill development and community service opportunities through the department's Police Explorers program.
• All use-of-force incidents are reviewed by multiple members of the police department's command staff.
• Strong partnerships have been built with groups like Children First, Treehouse, Project for Pride in Living, St. Louis Park Adult Options in Education, Perspectives, Cornerstone and Cornerhouse.
• The department has developed forms for community members to submit officer compliments and complaints online.
• The department provides support to neighborhood associations, block captains and citizens’ academies.
• Extensive training and support are provided to officers and dispatchers in the area of crisis intervention training, as well as the operation of a crisis negotiator team that involves members from both groups.
• The language line is used, by both officers and dispatchers, to ensure service delivery to everyone regardless of the language spoken.
• The department participates in the city’s human rights commission (HRC), multicultural advisory committee (MAC) and the police advisory commission (PAC).
• The department runs a chaplaincy program with representation from numerous faith groups.
• Safety education is provided to multiple programs, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and AAA’s new driver training.
• The department partners with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Prescription Drug Diversion Coordinators and hosts multiple prescription drug take back events.