NOBLE Recruitment and Retention Program Initiative

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Recruitment and Retention Program (NOBLE R&R) will be a holistic two year project with the overall goal of working collaboratively with Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institution, and other institutions of higher learning that serve a significant number of underrepresented groups in collectively working to address the workforce shortages in law enforcement. The key deliverables will be the creation a resource hub with regional affiliates, the launch of a national campaign, development of a speaker’s bureau, the creation of a pool of highly qualified applicants that includes minorities and women through a career pathways program, and develop best practice recommendations for law enforcement organizations.

NOBLE will leverage its six regions, 60 chapter network, nearly 5,000 members, and key national program partners to develop a technical resource center. The location for the in-person and virtual national resource hub will be Clark Atlanta University. The NOBLE R&R program proposes the creation of a national campaign that drives two key components of marketing and public relations: reach and frequency. The campaign will be titled, “A NOBLE Profession in Service and in Deeds: Be the Change Maker.” The goal will be to raise awareness on the value and importance of serving community and nation through public safety. Key outcomes include national coverage, program brand awareness, and a minimum of 75 students to apply to be part of the campaign. The NOBLE R&R speakers bureau will be designed to provide a platform for young people, faculty, alumni, and program stakeholders to act as ambassadors for the program. The expected metrics and outcomes are the following: minimum of 20 speakers, diverse bureau, and robust launch and execution.

The NOBLE R&R pathways program will create a pool of pre-qualified college educated, and mentored law enforcement applicants for law enforcement agencies in the United States. This pilot program will combine the two most effective recruitment and selection practices in the field of law enforcement. They are “grow your own” and “targeted selection.” This pilot program goals are three primary schools, 30 students, and 15 law enforcement agencies. The NOBLE R&R program will develop a toolkit that can be used by local law enforcement agencies to aid in increasing the diversity of their pool of qualified applicants and the retention of officers.