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Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee

In the summer of 1981, the U.S. Attorney General's Task Force on Violent Crime, a Bipartisan group of distinguished national criminal justice experts tasked with examining federal, state and local law enforcement needs, recommended that the Attorney General establish a forum to enhance communication at all levels of law enforcement. The Attorney General acted on the recommendation and formed the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC) for the purpose of improving coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice system within a federal judicial district.

To facilitate the formation of programs within the districts, Congress created the Law Enforcement Coordinator (LEC) position in 1986. The LEC represents the U.S. Attorney and the office by participating on law enforcement panels, local and statewide committees, and law enforcement task forces. The LEC maintains direct contact with the U.S. Attorney in the setting of priorities and the identifying of needs, activities, committees and task forces for the District's law enforcement program based on the LEC's close contact, involvement and participation with the District's law enforcement community.

The United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Eastern District of California has developed a meaningful cooperative program with our District's local and state agencies regarding a number of law enforcement issues. Our successes and achievements during this period are directly related to the cooperative spirit and the progressiveness of our District's law enforcement community. The USAO has strived to be responsive to the needs of our federal, state, and local agencies, especially the rural agencies that make up the bulk of our law enforcement population.

In 1996, in a further effort to enhance relationships among our agencies, the U.S. Attorney began holding annual District Law Enforcement Summits to ensure that our federal, state, and local law enforcement executives would have a regular opportunity to meet and discuss District law enforcement needs and concerns. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney formed an Executive Committee that includes sheriffs, police chiefs, state and federal agency heads, POST, and directors of California criminal justice associations. This committee assists the U.S. Attorney in planning various USAO sponsored activities and serves as the adviser on matters that impact local and state law enforcement within the District.

The U.S. Attorney's law enforcement program includes training, program development and facilitation, project assistance, assistance with acquiring federal grants, and when requested, serves as an ombudsman to District law enforcement agencies. The LEC for the Eastern District of California is the District’s permanent liaison with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and promotes coordination and cooperation among those agencies. This is accomplished by preparing, coordinating and distributing information, providing a forum for exchange of information, training officers and agents, and serving as a point person for disputed issues or positions within the law enforcement community.  The LEC also coordinates law enforcement activities and programs to include the organization of conferences, seminars and meetings and is an active member of national and local law enforcement associations and organizations.

In recent years, the role of the LEC has been expanded to include building and enhancing partnerships with the communities within each district. In the Eastern District of California the LEC works with the Community Outreach Specialist (COS) in building relationships with established and developing communities including local government, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, community leaders, businesses, residents, youth, and others. DOJ initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Safe Childhood, Anti-Human Trafficking, Anti-Terrorism, Anti-Gang, and Anti-Hate Crimes flourish because of community involvement. 

Updated July 18, 2016