COPS Start-Up AgenciesILJ is working with the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), to broaden the general knowledge and provide practical guidance on why and how communities create new law enforcement agencies, and how the principles and practices of community policing are implemented in new, and frequently small, departments. The first step in the project involves developing a survey for distribution to 277 agencies that began with the help of COPS funding. Based on the results, ILJ will select up to 30 agencies for follow-up telephone interviews. From among the 30 departments contacted by phone, at least four sites will be selected for site visits and detailed case studies. A comprehensive literature review combined with the data collected from the survey, telephone interviews, and site visits will allow ILJ to prepare a final report describing the study findings and a practical guidebook that officials and administrators in smaller communities can use as a reference and guide through the process of implementing a new law enforcement agency that is committed to community-oriented policing.