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My career started in an era of revolvers, hickory nightsticks and car radios that might have had just two or three radio channels. Computers were mainframes in big cities, and I was thrilled when erasable pens allowed me to no longer use Wite-Out to correct handwritten reports.
Technology, training, equipment and philosophies of policing have evolved greatly over my four decades in the profession. Where will we be headed in the coming years?
American law enforcement agencies have long been tasked with maintaining public safety and upholding the rule of law. However, the evolving landscape of technology, social dynamics and policy changes presents a multitude of challenges that will shape the future of policing in the U.S. As we look to the future, several key challenges stand out, each requiring careful consideration, adaptability and innovative solutions.
A lack of strategic planning to build a roadmap moving forward is no longer a luxury but a critical piece of competent management.
Technology and digital transformation
Advancements in technology are transforming every facet of society, including law enforcement. While technological tools such as body cameras, predictive analytics and facial recognition systems have the potential to enhance efficiency and accountability, they also raise concerns about privacy, data security and potential biases. Striking a balance between leveraging technology’s benefits and safeguarding individual rights will be a crucial challenge for law enforcement agencies.
The cost for local law enforcement to embrace force multipliers such as automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), or even maintaining body and car camera systems, is already a budget stressor. Chiefs and sheriffs are already evaluating dropping the cost of car cameras to ensure that body cameras remain constant.
The use of CCTV will continue to expand. Universities have relied on CCTV cameras for well over two decades. Even medium-sized universities can have 150 cameras capturing data, functioning as alarms and monitored by dispatchers who can then direct patrol units to suspicious activity.
Drones will continue to expand in use at crime scenes and drug raid planning. The ability for drones to “nest” on streetlights to recharge while on patrol will expand their range and time in the field.
Consolidation
Adequate funding for policing will continue to be a challenge. Small agencies of one to 10 officers may become a thing of the past as the cost of operating a professional department increases. Roughly 47% of the nation’s local law enforcement agencies have 10 or fewer officers or deputies. Nearly 8,000 police agencies out of the nation’s 18,000 fall into the small agency category. The duplication of overhead costs, management ranks and facilities will put pressure on the consolidation of the ultra-small agencies. Contracting police services with a larger agency or sheriff’s office may become the norm for small communities.
Community policing and trust
Building and maintaining trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve remains an ongoing challenge. High-profile cases of police misconduct have highlighted the need for reform and transparency. Law enforcement agencies must continue to prioritize community engagement, cultural sensitivity and de-escalation training to foster positive relationships and ensure that policing practices are equitable and just. Informative and information-rich websites are a must.
Mental health crisis intervention
Law enforcement officers often find themselves on the front lines of responding to mental health crises. The lack of specialized training in dealing with such situations can lead to tragic outcomes. Law enforcement must collaborate with mental health professionals to develop effective crisis intervention strategies that prioritize de-escalation and appropriate treatment, diverting individuals away from the criminal justice system whenever possible.
While crisis intervention team (CIT) training is important for the profession, the weakness of society failing to provide mental health resources, in-patient care, detox, drug rehabilitation and support services will negate much of the progressive policing efforts until society invests in handoff services.
Social and political polarization
As societal divisions grow, law enforcement agencies can find themselves caught in the crossfire of political and ideological conflicts. Striving to remain neutral while effectively managing public demonstrations and ensuring the safety of all citizens is a complex challenge. Agencies must navigate these situations with the utmost professionalism, adhering to the principles of free speech while preventing violence and maintaining public order.
Addressing systemic racism and bias
The ongoing discourse around systemic racism and bias within law enforcement will continue to demand meaningful change. Fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce is essential for building trust and legitimacy within all segments of society.
Staffing and training
Recruiting and retaining experienced professionals with competitive living wages and incentives is essential. Police departments and academies often have limited resources, resulting in prioritizing some aspects of training, such as firearms training, defensive tactics or emergency response, over crime prevention and community outreach.
With some 660 police academies nationwide with basic training curriculum that ranges from 350 hours to 1,650 hours, there will be a need to enhance minimum and uniform training standards from state to state to build a more consistent core curriculum in all states.
Lack of strategy and accountability
Far too often, the focus of policing is zeroed in on the current or upcoming budget year. A lack of strategic planning to build a roadmap moving forward is no longer a luxury but a critical piece of competent management. The same is true with law enforcement accreditation. If agencies fail to embrace accreditation, then forced oversight can be expected. For example, there are currently 137 police oversight entities, such as citizen review boards for city and county police departments, covering 124 jurisdictions. Some jurisdictions have more than one oversight body. This means 1% of local police departments are subject to mandatory community oversight.
Evolving crime landscape
The nature of crime is evolving, with increases in cybercrime, digital fraud and online harassment. Law enforcement agencies must stay ahead of criminals by developing new skill sets and tools to combat these emerging threats effectively. This requires ongoing training and collaboration with experts in technology and cybercrime.
Ransomware attacks or cyberattacks directed at the criminal justice system will increase. Consolidation of the thousands of often independent records management systems (RMS) at a regional or state level will become a serious discussion. Creating unified RMS systems will enhance security and interagency information sharing.
Active killing events show no sign of subsiding. According to the FBI, the rise in active shooter events since 2017 has reached nearly a 100% increase. A dysfunctional mental health system and a Swiss cheese process that lacks accountability for violations of existing weapons laws merely increases the revolving door of injustice and risk to the nation.
External pressures
Public sentiment, political pressures and media coverage can influence the decisions of police departments and academies. Agencies of all sizes will have to invest not just in crime prevention programming but in community outreach that includes social media, informative websites, and podcasts and video podcasts to expand beyond often reactive and inadequate communication efforts with their constituents.
Conclusion
The future of American law enforcement is marked by a series of complex challenges that demand adaptability, creativity and a commitment to justice. While technology offers opportunities for enhanced policing practices, it also raises ethical and privacy concerns that must be addressed. Building trust with communities and responding to community expectations are essential components of effective law enforcement. Citizen feedback and the use of community survey instruments will be a key guide for executives. By embracing these challenges head-on and working collaboratively with stakeholders, law enforcement agencies can shape a future that is safer, more equitable and more just for all.
Robert Spinks
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