Communities Foundation of Texas awarded a grant to the Meadows Institute to operate the Caruth Police Institute to continue to advance public safety innovation in North Texas and across the country
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute announced today that it would begin operating the Caruth Police Institute (CPI) and named a new director and members of the executive board.
Scott Donaldson, vice president of CPI, will serve as its director, and Tarrick McGuire, the chief of the Alexandria, Virginia, police department, will serve as the president of the executive board. CPI’s executive board features experts from across the country who are committed to ensuring that CPI remains a leader in modern police training and developing positive relationships between police departments and the community.
Communities Foundation of Texas awarded a grant to allow the Meadows Institute to operate CPI, which will continue to serve Dallas and North Texas while expanding its impact across Texas and the rest of the country.
CPI is the nation’s premier resource for advancing public safety leadership, innovation, and officer wellness and provides consulting, technical assistance, and training to departments and municipal governments across Texas and the nation. It was founded in 2008 and had been previously run by the University of North Texas at Dallas.
“The Caruth Police Institute is grateful to Communities Foundation of Texas for its transformative gift to allow the Meadows Institute to operate CPI,” said Donaldson. “I am honored to lead CPI and ensure that our partnership with police departments and municipal governments promotes public safety and builds strong connections between officers and the communities they serve.”
CPI is a leading voice for advancing public safety innovation and excellence. It provides technical assistance that supports agencies with data analysis, policy development, and operational implementation to strengthen community safety and officer wellness. It also offers a wide range of ongoing training and education programs for officers, civilian leadership, and public safety executive leaders. These programs address crucial needs in the law enforcement community, such as mental health response and crime-reduction strategies.
“Communities Foundation of Texas is committed to investing in public safety as we seek to build a thriving community for all,” said Wayne White, the president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas. “The Caruth Police Institute has long served as a leading voice here in North Texas and across the state and nation for innovative efforts that support both officers and residents. A safer community is a stronger community, and increasing safety includes investing in training, education, and implementing best practices. This investment allows the Meadows Institute to further public safety innovation forward in a bold way.”
The Meadows Institute’s operation of CPI signals a growing prioritization of strengthening the mental health and wellness of officers and improving the relationships between police departments and the communities they serve.
“I’ve had the privilege of serving as an instructor with the Caruth Police Institute, and I’ve seen firsthand the impact CPI has when we invest early in developing thoughtful, ethical leaders long before they ever step into command staff roles,” said Chief McGuire. “Policing today demands more from our people at every level, and that preparation cannot wait until someone earns rank. I’m excited and honored to serve as president of the CPI executive board and to help advance CPI’s mission of shaping the next generation of public safety leaders across the country.”

Source: Press release
