New Report Reveals Issue-Based and Technology-Focused Policies in Law Enforcement are on the Rise
State of Policy in Law Enforcement 2017 Report shows that agencies increasingly turn to technology to keep pace with rapidly evolving landscape of policy and hold officers accountable.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PowerDMS, law enforcement's leader in policy and training technology, reveals the results of its second annual State of Policy in Law Enforcement Report at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Philadelphia. More than 340 law enforcement professionals, representing 46 states, participated in a survey to uncover issues forming policy and training trends in an ever-changing society and how agencies are managing this rapid change.
The report's findings demonstrate a rise in issue-based and technology-focused policies, including those that address body-worn cameras, drones, opioids, and the transgender community. While there is an obvious need for training on these critical issues, agencies still face budget challenges in managing and training officers. As a result, an increasing number of agencies are employing technology to manage these rapidly evolving policies, and provide an increased level of accountability to officers, and the communities they serve.
Highlights from the report:
- 73 percent of agencies agree policies must be reviewed and updated constantly and are most important for keeping officers safe and reducing injuries
- 70 percent of agencies are actively looking for new and creative ways to extend agency training budgets
- 78 percent of agencies reported they have an increased need for training; however, the data shows agency budgets are not being adjusted to meet this need
"Policies and procedures are the backbone of any law enforcement agency, and direct our officers toward safety and professionalism. Though powerful, they become obsolete if not updated or communicated properly," said Jason Thody, Captain, Hartford Police Department. "With rapidly changing social issues, it's critical that our officers are armed with immediate access to appropriate and up-to-date policies and procedures. Investing in the right technology has helped us achieve this."
The survey was conducted confidentially and included primarily close-ended questions with pre-generated options.
"Our goal with these findings is to help equip law enforcement with the information needed to benchmark best practices, and as a result, improve operations," said Josh Brown, Founder and CEO, PowerDMS. "The law enforcement community is consistently challenged to do more with limited resources. Our hope is by providing law enforcement with the right mix of insight, knowledge and tools, we enable them to more effectively and efficiently work to keep their communities - and their officers - safe."
About PowerDMS
PowerDMS is web-based software that ensures officers are protecting themselves, their community, and their agency's reputation by electronically delivering and tracking the policies and training they need to do their jobs. PowerDMS guarantees officers receive and understand this critical content, so supervisors can hold them accountable for their performance in the field and quickly prove compliance in the wake of an incident. The majority of its nearly 2,800 customers are law enforcement agencies.
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SOURCE PowerDMS
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