Law Enforcement Trends For 2022 And Beyond

Author: Amanda Childress, February 22, 2022

You might have the impression that crime is on the increase, especially when you look through the news on various media. However, statistics on Pew Research Center actually shows that crime rates in the U.S. have plunged dramatically since the 1990s — robbery has decreased by 68%, murder/negligent manslaughter by 47%, and burglary by 69%. This is due to several factors, which include more criminals getting put in prison, the presence of more police, and a generational change (with the entry of millennials into the prime age bracket for criminal activity).

Aside from the above, there are also emerging trends and innovations that are improving law enforcement that is helping decrease the crime rate. Below are some of these:

Community-oriented Policing

Relations between the police and communities have been strained due to instances of police brutality, but 76% of police chiefs want to work on improving this relationship. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood explains that it will be difficult for law enforcement professionals to effectively address crime if residents don't trust them. As such, community-oriented policing, or simply community policing, is a strategy being introduced to help develop good relationships between community members. This allows for more positive interaction, instead of residents having contact with law enforcement only in the context of crime.

With community policing, public safety can be proactively addressed since the community can help law enforcers identify crimes and potential public safety issues that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. A press release by the Department of Justice in November last year showed that $139 million in grant funding was given to around 183 law enforcement agencies. Portions of the money will be used to hire additional full-time law enforcement professionals and to build legitimacy and trust between law enforcement agencies and their communities. Despite the news saying otherwise, this shows how law enforcement agencies are looking to improve their awareness to create communities where safety is a priority for everyone.

Cybercrime Crackdown

Photo 170407735 / Cybercriminal © Dmitry Nogaev | Dreamstime.com

Cybercrime is fast taking over physical crime as a law enforcement priority. Global cybercrime costs will increase by nearly 15% on a yearly basis. This has meant that law enforcement agencies have had to divert a lot more resources to catch cybercriminals, and this shift has changed how many agencies now operate and gather evidence.

A write-up on cybercrime by Maryville University notes that the primary difference between physical-world and cybercrime investigations is that the evidence in criminal investigations will mostly be digital. The process involves handling forensic data for digital evidence. There are a number of techniques for this — such as performing background checks by using records and databases to look for individuals potentially involved in crime. Investigators are also working with internet service providers and telecom and network companies to know which websites and protocols were used in the crime.

Police Technology

Photo 196063919 © Tatiana Golmer | Dreamstime.com

Law enforcement has seen a lot of technological innovations — such as the two-way radio in 1933, the radar detectors that capture vehicle speed in 1948, and dispatching in the 1960s. New technologies are always being developed to improve public safety. There are now pre-crime technologies like predictive policing and pre-crime algorithms. One way this is done is by targeting high-frequency offenders, demanding a quick response from the police, or also ensuring that these offenders don't fall back into their old habits. These innovations show how law enforcement is always trying to better itself for the good of the public.

As for post-crime technologies, DNA is at the forefront of innovations in law enforcement. An article on Nature reported how forensic DNA phenotyping is being used by enforcement agencies around the world. DNA phenotyping uses predictive DNA forensics to reveal physical appearance, biological sex, and ancestry. This has helped police quickly narrow a pool of suspects as well as identify long-dead remains. However, each country has different stances on the use of DNA phenotyping since DNA can reveal highly sensitive information. Solid guidelines must be created before any technologies are used for law enforcement.

Diversity and Inclusion

Data from The Lancet shows that black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) are disproportionately affected by police brutality compared to non-Hispanic white people — with black citizens three to five times likelier to be killed than white people. University psychologist Patricia Devine explains that while it may not be possible to completely get rid of biases, there are ways to manage behavior in the long term.

For one, aside from training the existing law enforcement professionals, leaders are making law enforcement more diverse and start a culture of inclusivity. In 2021, for instance, the FBI recruited more female and minority officers to build more trust between law enforcers and the community. Admittedly, the recruits expect challenges, but they choose to be part of the solution so members of their community aren’t discriminated against. One way to improve inclusion in the law enforcement workforce is by disseminating updated policies, procedures, and training regarding inclusion. This can include in-person training and a post-assessment. Enforcing a zero-tolerance policy to hold those who discriminate upholds a law enforcement agency’s pledge to inclusion.

Written exclusively for Policetest.info

by Amanda Childress

Snatching Success from the Jaws of Disaster

How do I reply when asked, "Why have you applied to so many agencies (12) in the last year?"

I recently received the above question from a nervous student who was entering the final stages of the hiring process. He was nervous because he had successfully gotten into the police academy earlier in the year but failed due to problems he had with the shotgun training. Would the fact that he had applied to so many agencies create the impression that he was a loser?

To add to his nervousness, he felt that he made additional mistakes along the way. This realization caused his self-confidence to go down and his self-doubt to go up. How can he get past the next interview?

There are several valuable lessons in this story for all law enforcement applicants.

Applicant’s Original Strategy

I initially applied to 6 departments to increase my chances of getting hired.

Applicant Regret #1 – Over Confidence?

When I was invited to 3 interviews, I dropped out of the other 3 departments, because they were not my favorite agencies. That turned out to be a big mistake, as I failed the 3 interviews I chose to pursue! Now, I was out of options.

Applicant Regret #2 – Why I Failed the Interviews

I failed the interview because they said I didn’t sound like I wanted the job. Which makes sense to me now. I wasn’t very enthusiastic during the interview. I was questioning the whole process.

Applicant Regret #3 – Dismissed from Academy

Cross Eye Dominant can be corrected

“I started the academy and failed the firearms portion of the academy. I found out I was Cross-Eye Dominant. There wasn’t enough time for me to get adjusted and pass the shot gun test. If I had known this was an problem for me, I could have corrected it earlier”

Depression and Doubt

“It’s been over 6 months now. I am restarting the process. I got my act together and decided to try again after failing academy and not getting hired. I applied to 7 agencies. On one hand, am more committed than ever to becoming a police officer, but on the other hand, I am afraid that all these applications will hurt my image.”

Sgt. Godoy’s Advice

Take pride in making smart moves when looking for a job

1. The fact that you applied to multiple agencies should be worn as a badge of pride. It is a smart move given the competitive nature of hiring. I recommend to all of my students,  “Do not to put all your eggs into one basket.” Applying to multiple agencies DOES NOT mean that you are less excited about one over the other.

2. Acknowledging that the field is competitive is a compliment to anyone hiring/interviewing you. It demonstrates to the interviewer that you see the position as hard to come by and having real value.

3. Reapplying to multiple agencies shows wisdom and commitment to the field. NOT giving up is a great quality in law enforcement.

4. As my Mastering the Police Interview course states, showing enthusiasm and awareness of each specific agency is critical. Therefore,  you will go into future interview ENTHUSIASTIC and up to speed on local issues – right?

5. Failing shooting? Cross-eye dominant? They would not care about this if it wasn’t important. You have taken steps to understand and correct for being cross-eye dominant. This is more solid evidence that you are committed and adaptable. So, talk about it!

6. DO NOT apologize like these were failures – they were learning experiences.

7. DO NOT use the term “getting my act together.”

8. Having competed side-by-side with others at the academy, you are now confident that you are well qualified both mentally and physically.

You are now motivated more than ever.

Good luck – Sgt. Godoy

How my Student Failed His Police Panel Interview

I received the following email that really upset me. Here is student who claims he studied my Mastering the Interview prep course, but really fell on his face when his opportunity to shine came up. Everyone interested in joining law enforcement should READ THIS STORY - even though it is frustrating.

"After studying your Mastering the Interview course, I took my interview today and did poorly. There were 3 questions that caught me off guard and I couldn't come up with a good answer in time. What would you recommend?

1. Why should police have a positive attitude and have good community relations?

2.What should the police be doing to improve community relations that they aren't already doing?.

3. What preparations did you take to get ready for a career law enforcement?"

This applicant’s failure highlights several valuable lessons:

Lesson 1: Get Prepared for your Interview

The oral interview is probably the most important step in the hiring process. This is true for any job in any field. You are almost to the end of the long journey, so don’t screw this up! Good preparation will be apparent to your reviewers not only in your answers but your overall self-confidence.

Lesson 2: Don’t Waste your Money

The main point presented in my prep course is that you need to understand what issues are facing the organization you are applying to. What are they proud of and what challenges do they face? This is especially true in law enforcement. How this student missed this point is UNBELIEVABLE to me, but a good lesson for all of us. Sometimes we read things without actually learning anything! Ask yourself a day after you study some subject, “What did you learn?”

Don’t waste your money on my prep courses if you’re not going to take it seriously!

Lesson 3: Do Your Own Research

Normally, I am very sensitive to any question submitted by students, but in this case, my answer was terse and placed the monkey back in the place it belongs - the applicant. Take ownership of your career and your job search. Look what happened when I cut and pasted the exact question from the email into a Google search!

Here is that link again -

Mastering the Interview prep course.

Sgt. George Godoy

Police Hiring uses Forensic Investigators to find Uncompromised Officers

Credit to Mike Cherry, Anchor/Reporter, WMUR - a Hearst Television company.

May 27, 2021, North Haverhill, NH

Since the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, there has been more scrutiny about extremist views and white supremacy, including in the military and law enforcement agencies. But some police and sheriff’s departments in New Hampshire have already been working to make sure their employees do not hold those views.

Sheriff Jeff Stiegler is in his second term as the head of the Grafton County Sheriff's Department. During his tenure, hiring qualified and uncompromised officers has been one of this top priorities.

"We need credible people that can give that compelling testimony when they have to," Stiegler said.

Even in the last few years, that process has evolved.

With society as deeply divided as he can remember, there can be no stone left unturned when it comes to learning whether prospects are affiliated with or show favor to hate groups or extremist ideologies.

"We owe that to the people we're serving that are paying the tax bill to have these people employed," Stiegler said.

To that end, the department takes a deep dive into the digital history of applicants.

"Everyone leaves behind a digital footprint at some time in their life," Justin Charette Combs, forensic examiner in the Grafton County Sheriff's Department, said.

The forensic investigators can scour multiple platforms for multiple usernames at once. What they find online can fluctuate greatly.

"The younger folks, they rely more heavily on social media than somebody that may be in their 60s or 70s. So even though that there's only 5 or 10 years of history of their social media, we may actually have more information because they're publicly putting it out there," Charette said.

Once a digital forensic sweep is conducted, special deputy Todd Cohen steps in. Cohen, a retired sheriff, collects additional information on foot.

"Where they're from, who they are, their associates, what they do," Cohen said.

Cohen will cross-reference a candidate's social media activity with their inner circle.

"Maybe they're associating with a known person who has a questionable reputation," Cohen said. "You may find that an uncle is involved with some sort of hate group and is vocal about it on social media, but the reality of it is when you speak to the candidate they have no affiliation with that relative."

The employee turnover rate at the Grafton County sheriff's department is low, but this department helps multiple agencies perform background checks, including any that may require a polygraph exam.

"We all work together to try and identify certain tendencies or discoveries that would flag an individual as perhaps not having the integrity to do the profession," Deputy Eric Bates, of the Grafton County Sheriff's Department, said.

Polygraph certification requires a three-month, 40-hour-per-week training program.

"Mine is a confirmation of, were you truthful in those responses that you provided the background investigation, or the psychological, or even a meeting directly with the sheriff," Bates said.

Stiegler couldn't recall coming across a candidate with strong affiliations to extremist views during his tenure, but vetting the people he hires for changes in ideology also comes during annual evaluations.

"We come out here, my expectation of my co-workers every day is that they treat everyone equally and without bias. That's our daily objective," Stiegler said.