UVA Program Took Police Leaders to Historical Sites

Law enforcement officials studied the role of police during the Nazi era through an annual international training program.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration featuring a minimalist watchtower silhouette against a high-contrast background, evoking historical gravity. — Police chiefs and sheriffs from across the U.S. traveled to Germany and Poland in spring 2026 to study the historical role of police in Nazi-era atrocities through a University of Virginia program. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In spring 2026, 130 police chiefs and sheriffs participated in an international training program hosted by the University of Virginia Center for Public Safety and Justice. The initiative involved traveling to Germany and Poland to study the historical role of police in atrocities.

Why it matters

The training intends to help law enforcement leaders understand how police can be used to carry out mass atrocities. By visiting sites such as Auschwitz and Birkenau, participants explore the critical importance of leadership and ethics in public service.

A total of 130 police chiefs and sheriffs participated in the program last spring. This initiative has served as a central training component for law enforcement leadership over the last four years.

The players

University of Virginia Center for Public Safety and Justice

This academic entity coordinates specialized training programs focused on ethics and leadership for law enforcement.

The details

Participants in the Operationalizing Never Again - Not On Our Watch program travel to Europe to explore the history of the Nazi era. The curriculum includes attending a VIP ceremony and participating in the March of the Living.

130 police chiefs and sheriffs participated in the program in Spring 2026.
Law enforcement leaders travel to Poland annually for the program.
The program has been a centerpiece for law enforcement over the last four years.

Legal Context

This program aligns with the Operationalizing Never Again program at the University of Virginia Center for Public Safety and Justice. It represents a shift toward using historical trauma as a primary pedagogical tool in modern law enforcement training.

The training is designed to ensure that local police leadership prioritizes human rights and ethics in their daily operations. By educating sheriffs and chiefs on the historical use of police in atrocities, the program aims to foster higher standards of conduct in local jurisdictions.

The takeaway

This program demonstrates how historical study can be integrated into professional development for police leaders. Participants gain a deeper understanding of how institutional ethics safeguard against the misuse of state power.