Yuma, Arizona - Arizona Western College Chief of Police John Edmundson participated in an invitation–only briefing at the White House last Friday on “Advancing 21st Century Policing”.
Nearly 150 chiefs from around the country were on hand for a days’ worth of presentations on topics like Officer Safety and Wellness, Police Data Initiatives, Implicit Bias Training, and Social Media Storytelling. The training was hosted by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and planned by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), from the Department of Justice. President Obama, who was not scheduled to speak, addressed the group for about 20 minutes during the briefing.
The COPS Office supports national efforts to implement the recommendations outlined in the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing Report. The Task Force recommendations provide meaningful solutions to help law enforcement agencies and communities strengthen trust and collaboration, while ushering the nation into the next phase of community-focused policing.
Chief Edmundson has been with AWC for 9 years. He retired from the Beverly Hills Police Department after 27 years of service. He also spent 10 years teaching at the California Post Supervisory Leadership Institute. He is a member of the International Association of Police Chiefs.