Early Intervention Systems for Law Enforcement Agencies - Cops ...

Executive Summary
• Early Intervention (EI) systems are an effective mechanism for enhancing accountability
within law enforcement agencies.
• Police managers experienced with EI systems report that they have a positive impact on
officer performance and that they strengthen supervision.
• EI systems are extremely complex administrative tools that require close attention by
police managers.
• In creating an EI system, careful decisions need to be made about the number of
performance indicators to be used and the thresholds to be used to identify potential
problem officers.
• For an EI system to be effective, sergeants and other supervisors need extensive training
about their new responsibilities.
• EI systems are consistent with the goals of Community Policing and can help to improve
police-community relations problems.
• Careful planning is essential in the development of an effective EI system. The key to the
planning process is the involvement of officers from all ranks of the department.
• EI systems are a "work in progress." Existing systems need to engage in a process of
continuous review and fine-tuning.
• This report focuses on EI in larger agencies: the exact size and scope of EI systems for
small and medium-sized law enforcement agencies is not known at this time.
• The law enforcement profession needs to sponsor continuing policy development related
to EI systems.
• Additional research is required on the impact and effectiveness of EI systems.
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