Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice and supported by the National Sheriffs' Association, American Society for Industrial Security, and International Association of Chiefs of Police, Operation Cooperation attempts to persuade police, sheriffs, and security professionals to talk, walk, and work together. It promotes some of the best ways to make their collaboration successful based on years of national research and ideas from groundbreakers in public-private cooperation. To be successful, partnerships first must have the support of the top law enforcement executives. A good partnership also should include the top local names in private security. Any subordinates sent to partnership meetings must have access to and the support of the leaders. The partnership may at first work well as an informal relationship, but if it has no structure at all, it is likely to stall as soon as personnel turn over or a single, common problem gets resolved. The structure could be as simple as a memorandum of understanding, become more structured with bylaws and written membership criteria, or have the formality of a nonprofit corporation. Partnerships benefit when there is a facilitator or coordinator, such as a staff officer or commander in the local police department or the security manager of a corporate member of the program. A central office and access to resources facilitate the performance of program activities. The funding for such resources often comes from the private sector in the form of partnership dues or corporate sponsorship. The partnership needs a clear mission if people are to join and stay with the partnership. An effective technique is to survey law enforcement and private security practitioners to identify issues or problems that require a joint effort. It is especially useful to identify a problem that the group could solve relatively quickly. The establishing of credibility and trust between the fields can be assisted through mutual awards or recognition for good service and through educational sessions that teach each field about the other. It is important to develop a plan of action that specifies what key members will do to sustain the partnership and help achieve its mission. Periodic assessment of performance is crucial.