Orlando, FL – October 9, 2018 – PowerDMS, law enforcement’s leader in policy and training management technology, today revealed the results of its third annual State of Policy in Law Enforcement Report at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Orlando. Nearly 250 law enforcement professionals across the U.S., participated in a survey that uncovered how they make critical policy and training decisions amid rapid societal, economic, and political change.
In a direct reflection of the country’s ongoing opioid epidemic, the report found policies and training surrounding the use of Naloxone, and its brand name Narcan, were added more than any others over the last year. Sixty-three percent of respondents said they added these policies and others in response to the conditions they’ve encountered in the field. Community and social issues, such as sexual assault, social media, and use of force, as well as technology advances like those related to body-worn cameras and drones, remain the focus of law enforcement policy development.
Key highlights include:
- 71 percent of agencies agree policies must be reviewed and updated constantly and are most important for keeping officers safe and reducing injuries
- 55 percent of agencies reported that today’s constant pressure and rapidly changing environment impacts policy changes within law enforcement
- 80 percent of agencies reported an increased need for training, while only 34 percent report enough budget to do so
“The State of Policy provides important research on policy and training trends impacting the future of law enforcement,” said Richard Beary, Chief of Police Emeritus. “Officer safety, training, and wellness is a critical area of focus in our ever-changing society. This report shines light on how agencies are leveraging policy to keep our officers, and ultimately our communities safe. All agencies can benefit from taking this information and benchmarking their current processes against other agencies throughout the country.”
“Law enforcement agencies are on the front lines of our evolving communities. To best serve their citizens, it is imperative they remain aware of changing leadership approaches and their implications,” said David DiGiacomo, CEO of PowerDMS. “Our goal with these findings is to arm
law enforcement with a useful tool that shares important insight and knowledge to help them work more effectively and efficiently, keeping their officers and their communities safe.”
The survey was conducted confidentially and included primarily close-ended questions with pre-generated options.