The Third Annual Community Policing Conference: "Initiating Community Change" will be held 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at Wayne State University's McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

Representatives from community organizations, the City Council, District Court, Detroit Police and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office will be among those coming together to discuss community policing.

Featured speakers include Warren Friedman, founder and executive director, Chicago Alliance for Neighborhood Safety (CANS), speaking on "Community-Oriented Policing in Chicago: What Works, What Doesn't," and Bruce Benson, Michigan State University, speaking on "Community Policing: More Than Just a Program."

"Community Policing is an important initiative for the city of Detroit," says Detroit Police Chief Benny Napoleon. "Through this conference we want to continue building awareness of community policing strategies in Detroit and dramatically increase participation by our citizens."

Panelists and participants in this year's conference include: Comdr. Dennis Richardson, City of Detroit Office of Police Chief; Denise Gray, executive director, Empowerment Zone; Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano; Mike Vaszquez, Project GRACE; John George, Motor City Blight Busters; Sid Taylor, SBF Automotive/ICLL Business Association.

Others are Janice Harvey, Gratiot McDougall United Community Development Corporation; Amy Rogers, Southwest Detroit Business Association; Jackie Gant, Southwest Detroit Opportunity Center; Roy Wilds, WSU Urban Safety Program; Greg Moore, City of Detroit Department of Environmental Affairs; Kathy Wendler, Southwest Detroit Business Association; and Chief Judge Maryland Adkins, 36th District Court.

Community policing is a citywide philosophy and management approach that promotes community, government and police partnerships; proactive problem solving; and community engagement to address the causes of crime, fear of crime and other community issues. Community Policing has two equally important core components: Community Partnership and Problem Solving.

Under the community policing philosophy, law enforcement agencies recognize the need for cooperation with the communities they serve. Some of the benefits of Community Policing include effective use of talent and resources within the community to help solve problems; positive, productive relationships between police and the public; reduced levels of crime and disorder problems; greater job satisfaction for law enforcement officers; and improved quality of life for community members.

This year's sponsors include the Collaborative for a Safer Community, in WSU's College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs and The Detroit Urban League.

Registration for the conference is free. For further information on the conference call Karra Walker (313) 577-1561 or visit the Center for Urban Studies Web site.