As law enforcement officers and concerned community leaders, we know that this is not the way that it should be, but we acknowledge that this is the way that it is.  These are just some of the headwinds that we face as we strive to establish more peaceful relationships between the police and our communities.

After hearing testimonials and examining empirical data presented to them, the diverse group of participants at the April 2022 Workshop concluded that better coordination among concerned agencies and organizations was needed to minimize the chances of violent outcomes during the initial encounter between the public and police.  As such, the participants concluded that we should focus our collective efforts on The First 30 Seconds℠ of a police-civilian encounter in order to avert violent confrontations from devolving into much larger incidents.  It was proposed that an organization be established to inform the public on what to expect during “routine” traffic stops, and what both parties can do to minimize confrontational transactions between the police and persons getting stopped. 

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In December of 2022, the Tampa Bay Area Alliance for Peace and Conflict Resolution became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  On June 26, 2023, the Board of Directors held its first formal organizational meeting.  These Board members have committed themselves to their mission, which is “to save lives and livelihoods by seeking ways to de-escalate potential conflict between police and non-police persons during their initial encounter.”  It is through established partnerships with police departments, community organizations, learning organizations, churches, government officials, and professional athletes, that the Alliance will provide in-person and virtual training with a deep commitment for public and police safety.