Michael Burgess

Why evidence-based and problem-oriented policing must be translated into practical, everyday police work Law enforcement has always changed. Sometimes that change happens gradually through leadership, training, experience, and research. Other times, it happens suddenly after a major incident, public pressure, or civil unrest. Either way, the profession has never stayed the same. That does not make change easy. Cops work in a difficult profession. They face danger, uncertainty, criticism,...

Officer wellness is not talked about enough. When we talk about proactive crime prevention, we often focus on safer communities, fewer victims, reduced repeat calls, smarter use of resources, and better outcomes for the people we serve. Those things are all important. But there is another part of this conversation that deserves more attention. Every problem prevented is one less crisis someone has to respond to. Every victimization prevented is one less trauma for a victim, a family, a...

Have you ever wished there was a simpler way to understand the SARA model and quickly assess whether a planned response is realistic, practical, and workable in the real world? That is the purpose of this simple SARA + R.E.A.L. visual reference. The SARA model provides a step-by-step problem-solving process: Scan — What is the problem? Analyze — Why is it happening? Where is it happening? When is it happening? Who is involved or affected? Respond — What should we do to address it? Assess —...