What Is Proactive Policing? Is It Dead?
Proactive Policing Is Similar Regardless Of Department Size
This past week, BC Sanders (pseudonym) discussed modern policing on The Protectors® podcast. BC is a police leader in a mid-size department on the east coast. BC worked in a myriad of duties from street patrol to homicide to gang investigations.
The discussion quickly turned to proactive policing and whether departments are still active in the community.
BC told a story of working with a seasoned detective when he first hit the streets. BC said he followed the detective to a location where narcotics activity flourished. On the way to the location the detective grabbed a milk crate. BC had no idea why he grabbed a crate, so BC followed along and grabbed one for himself. As BC and the detective moved into a covert location to watch the drug activity, the detective put the crate on the ground. BC had no clue what was up with the crate until the detective took a seat. Surveillance takes time and it’s a lot more comfortable to sit and watch. The crate mattered.
“Leadership matters. Sharing that knowledge and getting newer officers motivated and empowered to be like, ‘this is the problem on your beat. Tell me how you think we can fix it.’ You know, if it's burglary pattern, if it's, you know, drug dealing, if it's prostitution, whatever it is; ask officers how they fix it, and then let them do it. Let them build these projects, let them do surveillance.”
INTERVIEW EXCERPT: BC SANDERS
Policing is seemingly different from local to county to major metropolitan jurisdictions. However, while the difference in staffing and resources set the departments apart, proactive policing is similar regardless of size. Let’s take a look at proactive policing from different viewpoints.
Matt Thomas, Chief Deputy, Pinal County Sheriff's Office
Matt has served in law enforcement for thirty years in numerous assignments, from SWAT to undercover to interdiction and beyond. Matt currently serves as the Chief Deputy, Executive Officer to the Sheriff.
Matt is the author of Interceptors: The Untold Fight Against the Mexican Cartels.
Q: What is proactive policing?
Matt: For me, proactive policing is being out in your community that you are responsible for. Cruising the neighborhood, stopping and talking to people, knowing what’s going on in your area, and actively hunting the true bad guys in that area. It really means being the master of your craft. Knowing who is who, getting good Intel and information, taking action, when you need to, and doing the job, you swore an oath to do.
Q: How can police be more proactive?
Matt: Police can be more proactive by understanding their role, better, and being the best they can be. That means training on as many different aspects of the job as you can. Knowing your laws and your caselaw. Knowing criminal behavior, criminal patterns, and knowing your community. You have to actually give a damn, and be in it to make a difference, even if that means just a small difference every shift.
Q: What is tying your hands?
Matt: What hinders us most in today’s world of policing, our politicians, lawmakers, or people, in influential positions, who push a narrative that they know nothing about. They push for reform, laws, and ask that we operate in a way that is unrealistic. They have no actual experience in our field of work, but yet they give expert opinions on what they think. They create narratives, rules, and laws that benefit the criminal more than the citizens, that we swore an oath to protect.”
Aaron Lohman, Sergeant, Major City Police Department
Aaron has served in law enforcement for 16 years in one of the largest police departments in the world.
Aaron is the author of Starting Over.
Q: What is proactive policing:
Aaron: Proactive policing is preventative policing, stopping potential crime before it starts. This can be done in a number of ways. 1) through things like enforcement car stops, tracking potential criminals, observation of narcotics and firearms sales and the use of undercovers. Debriefing criminals to learn about potential crimes, gangs, and using that intel to get warrants. It also includes programs geared towards keeping the youth off of the streets and out of a criminal element and informing them that crime doesn’t pay and that they have other alternatives to crime.
Q: How can police be more proactive?
Aaron: Doing car stops and making arrests is great, but the most important thing isn’t the arrest it’s prosecution. Studying the law and knowing what you can and can’t do and what will be necessary for a prosecution in your jurisdiction is key. Making an arrest for a crime is awesome but being able to articulate the basis for the arrest and the evidence behind it is key. Departments fall short on this.
Q: What is tying your hands?
Aaron: Public perception, complaints, discipline based on complaints and of course political action like bail reform which causes a revolving door of criminals abusing the system.