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In the event of a government shutdown, our Museum will remain open to the public through at least December 24, 2024. More information about visiting the Museum can be found on Plan Your Visit.

Outreach Programs

Law Enforcement

Additional Resources

During the Holocaust, the police were central figures not just in maintaining public order but also in combating so-called racial enemies of the Nazi state. They also played a key role in the concentration, deportation, and murder of Jews in Nazi-controlled Europe. Explore this history through the links below.

The Museum engages with law enforcement at the federal, state, and local level to learn about the role of police in Nazi Germany and to reflect on their role in a democratic society today.

About the LEAS Program

Our signature program, Law Enforcement and Society: Lessons of the Holocaust (LEAS), is presented in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League. Established in 1999 at the request of DC Metropolitan Police Department, the program is suitable for recruit, in-service, and command professionals in law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels. To date, this innovative program has reached more than 150,000 officers from the US and 80 countries worldwide.

About the Community Engagement Program

This innovative program brings together members of the DC Metropolitan Police Department, local community members, and the Museum’s Bringing the Lessons Home Ambassadors to examine the role of police in Nazi Germany in order to better understand the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve today.

Defining Moments in Policing: Ethical Decision Making during the Holocaust

The Defining Moments in Policing: Ethical Decision Making during the Holocaust program enables participants to critically examine the role of choice and decision-making by police during the Nazi era, using a case study of police action during Kristallnacht.

The program consists of 2 core modules (with an optional 3rd module) that can be run in 2-2.5 hours. Recommended for US federal, state, and local law enforcement (ideally located near a local Holocaust museum or education center.)

For more information, contact Sarah Reza at sreza@ushmm.org.

Contact Us

To learn more about the program and the Museum’s resources for law enforcement, contact: 

Sarah Reza Program Manager, Law and Justice Initiatives sreza@ushmm.org

Learn more about our staff.

The Law Enforcement and Society: Lessons of the Holocaust program receives valuable ongoing support from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and Drs. Donald and Gwen Hecht.

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Outreach Programs
Outreach Programs

The Museum tailors programs to groups and professions for whom the lessons of the Holocaust are especially relevant.