City managers and police chiefs play a vital role in protecting their cities from legal challenges and ensuring compliance with civil rights laws. Building a strong partnership between city leadership and law enforcement is essential to safeguarding municipalities and reducing risks.

Five key areas can strengthen this collaboration:

Policy Updates: Regularly updating department policies to align with state and federal laws helps reduce liability and ensure compliance.
Policy Dissemination: Clear communication and training on updated policies ensure officers understand and implement them effectively.
Continuous Training: Ongoing education on high-risk areas like use of force and civil rights violations equips officers to navigate complex situations while minimizing risk.
Compliance Audits: Routine audits ensure policies are not only documented but also followed in practice, catching potential issues before they escalate.
Litigation Preparedness: Proactively strengthening legal defenses through robust training, record-keeping, and compliance measures prepares cities to handle lawsuits effectively.

City managers can play an active role by fostering collaboration with police leadership, prioritizing resources for training and compliance, and maintaining open communication.