The Caruth Police Institute celebrated its 10th Anniversary, which includes a proud partnership with UNT Dallas, on Thursday night at the Communities Foundation of Texas in North Dallas.

UNT Dallas President Bob Mong, Vice President for Advancement Dr. Monica Williams and Provost Betty Stewart, among others, attended the reception. President Mong was a featured speaker for the evening, and he praised the important partnership between the innovative Institute and UNT Dallas, which has served as CPI's home. He also used the opportunity to inform the guests of the great strides UNT Dallas has achieved, including 51 percent enrollment growth over the last three years, significant increases in retention and graduate rates and a second consecutive year ranked No. 2 nationally among public universities for lowest student debt upon graduation.

CPI provides some of the most comprehensive and innovative leadership training in law enforcement. A portion of Thursday's reception included a panel of four area police chiefs in a discussion about the evolving techniques and challenges of 21st Century policing. CPI's classes teach leaders, and law enforcement officers seeking leadership positions, to think differently about leadership, about policing’s role in society, about ways to strengthen police-community relations and about the ways that research and evidence can inform public safety policy.

"There are some, what I would call, collateral value and virtue in CPI," Mong said. "Some area police departments are under their allotted number of officers. We at UNT Dallas work closely with area high schools   and community colleges. Just down the street from us is Carter High School. Carter High School is home to the Police and Fire academies." 

Mong suggested partnerships between CPI, UNT Dallas, local high schools and community colleges can work together to solve issues such as difficulties recruiting new police officers to the Dallas Police Department.

"Let's talk about getting a pipeline going to help DPD out, and any other area police departments," Mong said. "That's a problem to be solved, and that's what we're all about. We look for problems that can be solved through partnership."

The evening also served as a fond farewell to our own Dr. Melinda Schlager, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and the Executive Director of the Caruth Police Institute. She has accepted the position of provost at Montana State University, Billings.