𝗣𝗣𝗦 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 — 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀: 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Many agencies I work with are eager to “do something proactive.”

They want strategies. Programs. Tactics.

But here’s the reality:

Without a solid understanding of the basics of Evidence-Based Policing (EBP) and Problem-Oriented Policing (POP), even the best strategies will miss the mark.

Before we talk about what to do, we have to understand what the actual problem is—and why it’s happening.

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙨

Evidence-Based Policing (EBP) is not about following trends or buying new technology.

It’s about using research, data, and professional experience to guide decisions—so we’re not guessing or reacting, but acting with purpose.

Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) shifts the focus away from individual incidents and toward patterns and underlying conditions that allow crime and disorder to occur in the first place.

In short:

 • EBP helps us make smarter decisions

 • POP helps us ask better questions

𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝘼𝙍𝘼 𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙡 (𝘽𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪 “𝙅𝙪𝙢𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚”)

SARA is not a checklist—it’s a thinking framework:

 • Scanning: What recurring problems are we seeing?

 • Analysis: What does the data tell us about where, when, how, and why this problem exists?

 • Response: What targeted actions address the root causes, not just the symptoms?

 • Assessment: Did it work? What needs to be adjusted?

Most agencies struggle because they jump straight to Response, skipping the most important step: Analysis.

𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨

Whether you’re an officer, supervisor, analyst, or administrator—your role is critical.

 • Officers observe patterns and conditions on the ground

 • Supervisors guide problem identification and accountability

 • Analysts help turn raw data into meaningful insight

 • Leadership ensures the process is supported and sustained

This is not about doing more work.

It’s about doing the right work, in the right places, for the right reasons.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮

If agencies skip the foundation—

If they don’t understand what EBP and POP are, why they matter, and how to properly identify problems using their data—

Then strategies become random, reactive, and unsustainable.

Get the foundation right first.

Everything effective comes after that.

Want to know more, or maybe you need some help getting started?

Reach out, I'm here to help!

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.