During 2002, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) fostered past partnerships and seized opportunities to develop new ones throughout the community in an effort to combat bias crimes and incidents. The 96 bias related events reported in Fairfax County in 2002 reflect a decrease from 2001, in which 137 events were reported.

The renewed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians continue to have international bias crime ramifications. Locally, there was an increase in anti-Jewish events from 13 events in 2001 to 24 events in 2002. In an effort to combat this growing trend of intolerance, the Fairfax County Police Department partnered with the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation by participating in a safety seminar for Jewish businessman and synagogues in the Washington Metropolitan area.

The Fairfax County Police Department have continued a number of outreach efforts in each of the district stations. Some of the outreach efforts included religious schools and houses of worship, and other outreach efforts included, among others, the Latino, African-American, Arab, and gay and lesbian communities.

Also, the Department has continued its partnership with the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission and distributed hundreds of Bias Crime Prevention brochures throughout the community. The FCPD participated in the Kaleidoscope monthly meetings where citizens of different backgrounds ask questions on issues about diversity.

Through these community partnerships, the Fairfax County Police Deapartment will succeed in a joint endeavor to ensure equity for all members of the community.