Creating safer communities together.

We believe safer communities are built through education,
outreach, and meaningful collaboration.

Explore Our Programs

Guided by experience.
Empowered by change.

With over two decades of law enforcement expertise, Derrick Dotson offers a unique dual perspective—unifying knowledge of law enforcement's challenges and firsthand experience of community concerns allows him to bridge the gap between police and the public.

Educating children today
for a safer tomorrow.

We believe creating content to educate kids about safe
police interaction early will create safer and responsible adults.

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Welcome To
The Black Sanctuary

The Black Sanctuary is an innovative education and empowerment platform designed to transform the way U.S. citizens and residents, particularly Black Americans, engage with law enforcement. We believe that empowerment starts with education and we are committed to bridging gaps in trust and reducing risks during police interactions. As a Black-owned and founded business, we proudly pave the way as the first company to focus on a transformative approach to law enforcement education, mindset and empowerment, and safety and security.

Derrick Dotson

Derrick Dotson is a long-time public servant with more than twenty years of experience in both law enforcement and private security. Following the deaths of multiple Black Americans in 2020, Derrick felt there was a lack of guidance from the media and established and informed leaders in response to fatalities involving police. Derrick began sharing his career knowledge with companies and private citizens as he believed if people understood more about policing and the use of force, interactions with police would be more productive and uneventful.

What We Do

Our mission at The Black Sanctuary is to empower communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to ensure that every police interaction is as uneventful as possible. We are transforming community engagement with law enforcement nationwide by integrating objective insights, indisputable information, and real-world expertise. Central to our mission is a commitment to education, providing factual content about policing, responsible use of force, and facilitating understanding through educational programs.

We promote open dialogue and innovative strategies by consulting and partnering with schools, community organizations, parent groups, and law enforcement agencies. This collective approach helps break down barriers and establish trust, paving the way for a society where interactions with police are marked by mutual courtesy and empathy.

As Featured On

The Police and Me

A Best-Selling Book By Derrick Dotson

Derrick Dotson is a former law enforcement officer, use-of-force instructor, and father who understands the importance of having this conversation with children who may come into contact with the police. He wrote his best-selling children’s book, “The Police and Me,” as a conversation starter with kids to assist them in learning about laws, police duties, and, most importantly, what to do when they come into contact with police. The earlier kids have this conversation, the better it will be for everyone.

Services We Provide

Our primary focus is sharing our knowledge, training, and experience to make sure each police interaction a private citizen has is as uneventful as possible. We accomplish this through speaking engagements and consulting with community organizations, police departments, companies, and schools to increase the public’s understanding of policing and use of force.

Speaking Engagements

The Black Sanctuary delivers presentations for live and online audiences, which we call “Sanctuary Sessions.” Our primary focus is safe police interactions as we provide practical yet actionable information to our audiences to enhance their safety. We often conclude our sessions with an unfiltered Q&A segment.

Our Audiences:

Community Organizations
Colleges and Universities
Police Departments
Schools K-12
Corporations

Consulting

The Black Sanctuary offers specialized consulting services for law enforcement agencies aimed at improving community relations, officer training, and departmental policies.

Competency Areas:

Community Engagement Programs
Cultural Competency
Police Advisory Councils
Policy Review and Reform
Youth and Police Relations Programs

Speaking Engagements

Our Audiences:

Community Organizations
Colleges and Universities
Police Departments
Schools K-12
Corporations

Consulting

The Black Sanctuary offers specialized consulting services for law enforcement agencies aimed at improving community relations, officer training, and departmental policies.