Reviewing the preceding 14 chapters from both researchers and law enforcement personnel, the editors identify four cross-cutting and fundamental principles that must be met to create law enforcement agencies and members that have the capacity to deliver high-performance policing within a framework of community safety, trust, and equity. The four identified principles are as follows: 1) police training should embrace an evidence-based philosophy, 2) police departments should utilize technology effectively and judiciously, 3) police training should emphasize justice and community relations, and 4) police leadership should embrace a culture of accountability. Each of these principles is discussed and explored.
TopWhen we envisioned the current book, we had one simple question: Why is it that after decades of police research and reforms and ever-more advanced training, the community trust in law enforcement is at its lowest and regulatory tension at its highest? Why do we still have to read about police violations of civil and human rights? There remain far too many deaths in the interactions between police and the public; according to the Mapping Police Violence project (2021), over 1,000 people were killed by police in the United States in 2020. Police officers continue to lose their lives in the line of duty and self-inflict lethal harm to themselves; according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (2021), 264 United States law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2020. Simply put, why is there no nationally consistent standard of excellence in law enforcement where police are recognized as a stellar pillar in building safe, equitable, and harmonious communities?
Based on decades of experiences from working to enhance police performance and health, and supported by NIH-funded research, we thought the answer would be straightforward. Implement evidence-based methods of selecting, training, and continuously assessing and developing skills among law enforcement officers. However, once we started sketching the synopsis of this book, it became increasingly clear that the reality was much more complex. In reviewing decades of policy documents, training manuals, research, and police reforms, we identified a fundamental lack of a systems-level approach to enhancing police selection, training, and continuous assessment and enhancement of professional performance. Following this epiphany, we decided to write a book that engaged world-class police researchers and seasoned police leaders in the United States and Europe.
Based on this unparalleled collection of expertise, we have identified 4 cross-cutting and fundamental principles that must be met to create law enforcement agencies and members that have the capacity to deliver high-performance policing within a framework of community safety, trust, and equity.
An illustration of these principles and their interconnection with all aspects of law enforcement and community, is presented in Figure 1.