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From left: Rachel Santos, City of Madison, Wisconsin, Police Chief Shon F. Barnes, and Roberto Santos.

澳门老奇人论坛鈥檚 Center for Police Practice, Policy and Research has presented its 2024 Excellence in Policing Award to City of Madison, Wisconsin, Police Chief Shon F. Barnes, Ph.D.

Roberto and Rachel Santos, co-directors of the center and faculty members in Radford University鈥檚 Department of Criminal Justice, present the award each year to a current police executive. Recipients are noted leaders in their agencies and the law enforcement profession as well as champions of innovative strategies that bring about change and improve policing.

鈥淚t is with profound gratitude that I accept the 2024 Excellence in Policing Award from 澳门老奇人论坛's Center for Police Practice, Policy and Research,鈥 Barnes said. 鈥淭his accolade holds a distinguished place in the annals of the Madison Police Department 鈥 a department that has wholeheartedly adopted Stratified Policing principles.鈥

Since his arrival in early 2021, Barnes has emphasized community engagement and partnerships and has introduced Stratified Policing as the department鈥檚 structure for sustainability of proactive crime reduction efforts, which includes continual monitoring and continuous reengagement of the problem-solving process (SARA). 

Madison has seen significant decreases in crime since Barnes鈥 arrival that outpace other similar cities, Rachel Santos noted. Since 2021, robbery is down 18%; burglary is down 21%; theft from auto is down 49%; and auto theft is down 28%. The combined decrease resulted in the equivalent of 1,047 fewer cases and associated victims.

鈥淥ur unwavering dedication to evidence-based policing strategies has led to unprecedented reductions in crime rates and a significant enhancement in the rapport between the police department and the Madison community,鈥 Barnes said. 鈥淢y heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Roberto Santos and Dr. Rachel Santos for their invaluable research and mentorship provided to the Madison Police Department. We remain steadfast in our pledge to set the standard as a National Exemplar of Outstanding Policing.鈥

The Santoses note that it is an honor to present this award to Barnes. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 rare to see the level at which Chief Barnes鈥 is able to integrate knowledge and leadership,鈥 Roberto Santos said, 鈥渨ith a sincere dedication to serving the community, to improve the policing profession.鈥 

The Santoses began presenting the award when the center opened in 2019. The first recipient was Col. Nathaniel McQueen, Delaware State Police (retired), and current State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security Cabinet secretary. Subsequent winners have been Chief Scott C. Booth of the Roanoke (Virginia) Police Department, Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr. of Walton County, Florida, and Chief Maris Herold, Boulder (Colorado) Police Department (retired), currently senior advisor, Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The Center of Police Practice, Policy and Research combines evidence-based and practice-based research to create knowledge from original research and translate research to practice through publications, presentations, training and technical assistance.

The center is a place for networking and collaboration among 澳门老奇人论坛 faculty, other police researchers and experts, police officers and administrators. The Santoses partner with local and county police departments, state police and sheriff鈥檚 offices around the United States to implement Stratified Policing in each agency鈥檚 daily operations and institutionalize proactive crime reduction and community engagement. They also partner with agencies to carry out large grant-funded projects that seek to translate research on 鈥渨hat works,鈥 they said, to police policy and practice.

In addition, the center is a means for mentoring undergraduate and graduate students for careers in policing, crime analysis and research. 澳门老奇人论坛 criminal justice majors are involved in research opportunities within the center related to police/community engagement, cybercrime, crime prevention through environmental design, critical incident management, crime and intelligence analysis and evidence-based crime reduction strategies.