Thriving communities are those where law enforcement is engaged with varied cross-sector partners serving, restoring, and sustaining a community.

Historically, in low-income areas, residents can have low levels of trust in the police department. This may be the result of a general distrust for authority or lack of understanding of police procedure; language, or techniques; or it can be the result of a negative experience with misconduct by the police. Perhaps, most of all, distrust occurs when there is a lack of a relationship between residents and law enforcement. Distrust of police creates a barrier when dealing with crime and people in low-income areas and encumbers the fragile relationship between police and citizens.