Denis Sabo
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening Collaboration Between the Police and the Population in the Districts of Oké-owo and Béssé in the Commune of Savè in BeninBenin
Denis Sabo graduated with a Commissioner’s Diploma from the National School of Police of Saint Cyr at the Mont d'Or in France. He currently serves as a police commissioner and trainer in community policing and police ethics and a lecturer-researcher at the Institute of the Living Environment of the University of Abomey-Calavi. He also is a consultant of the German cooperation agency GIZ for the development of the training module in police ethics for the benefit of the Beninese republican police. Sabo also holds a master’s degree in Spatial Planning and Local Development as well as a PhD in Crime Geography from the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin and a master's degree in human resources management and criminal law and criminal science from the University Jean Moulin Lyon 3 in France.
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening Collaboration Between the Police and the Population in the Districts of Oké-owo and Béssé in the Commune of Savè in Benin
This project strengthened the relationship between the police and youth in the border regions of Benin and continued the work of Denis' previous project to reach new populations and audiences. The specific objectives were to facilitate dialogue between police services and young people by involving youth in local activities, helping youth understand the role of the police through training and awareness campaigns, reconcile tensions between civilians and police officers through community clean-ups, and train police officers on best practices when interacting with civilians. The project featured six trainings on community policing, youth leadership, and six sanitation campaigns where police officers and civilians worked together to keep their towns clean impacted over 503 individuals. He also met with youth in the community to discuss how community members can engage and build relationships with the police.
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening Collaboration Between the Young People and the Police of Savè for Peace and Security
The aim of this project was to facilitate dialogue between the police services and young people in various ways. First, it encouraged the integration of youth workers into the consultation bodies between local authorities and police services. Second, it trained and created awareness among young people that enabled young leaders to better understand the missions of the police and the army. Third, it organized reconciliation activities between the two parties through joint sanitation campaigns in the districts. Lastly, the project helped to train police officers on ethics and best practices of community policing.
This project strengthened the relationship between local police and community members. 20 police officers were trained to speak to the community and encourage collaboration and peacebuilding. The project also inspired those who participated in the sanitation campaigns to organize similar ones in the future. Over the course of the project, 360 people participated in their community meetings and 758 people participated in several community sanitation campaigns.
"This [project] reassures everyone who will now be able to discuss together to find solutions to the problems." - Project Participant
IVLP Exchange Experience
Denis was a participant in the IVLP Project Countering Violent Extremism - Community Strategies in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center. He was a participant in the IVLP Project Countering Violent Extremism - Community Strategies in 2022, organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning.
U.S. Communities Visited in 2022
Los Angeles, CA; Boulder, CO; Denver, CO; Washington, DC; Louisville, KY
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021
Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Detroit, MI; Madison, WI