Resources

Violent Crime Reduction Training and Technical Assistance

In recent years, communities across the country have experienced substantial increases in gun violence. While some localities have made progress in reducing violence, pressing concerns remain for residents, community and business leaders, law enforcement officials, public health providers, and more. In response to these concerns, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently launched the Violent Crime Reduction Roadmap (Roadmap) to provide local jurisdictions with a one-stop shop for assistance in implementing strategies to address violent crime, especially community gun violence.

Police, prosecutors, city officials, and jurisdictions can request training and technical assistance (TTA) on how to use the Roadmap strategies to reduce violent crime while building community trust. PERF has been funded by the DOJ Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to coordinate this TTA, which will be tailored to each community’s unique needs and violent crime issues.

Critical Response Toolkit for First-Line Supervisors

When a major event occurs, the first officers on the scene naturally turn to their sergeants for direction and leadership. It is crucial that these first-line supervisors have the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to ensure a safe and coordinated response. PERF’s Toolkit is designed to help agencies prepare their first-line supervisory teams for successfully managing a range of critical incidents.

The Toolkit includes information and resources to assist first-line supervisors in all phases of a critical incident: pre-event preparations, incident management, and post-incident review. The Toolkit highlights innovations and promising practices in training, decision-making, on-scene management, media relations, after-action reviews, and officer wellness initiatives. The Toolkit also presents sample checklists, field reference guides, training outlines, after-action templates, and wellness programming. These materials are assembled in a Helpful Resources section of the Toolkit. In addition, the Toolkit includes a Quick Reference Guide that first-line supervisors can print and carry with them.

Chapter 2: How Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Are Finding Meaning and Purpose In the Next Stage of Their Careers

This book provides a new way of thinking about a career in policing. It recognizes that the concept of retirement is changing in many professions – and especially in policing. The traditional policing model – offering a good pension in exchange for 30 years of service to a single police department – is becoming out of date. Life expectancy is increasing, so a person “retiring” from a police job at age 55 will likely live another 25 years or more. Many are finding that 55 is too young to retire to a life of leisure, so they are creating a “Chapter 2” in their lives and careers. Nearly 100 PERF members who have retired from a police agency told us what they are doing, and gave us their best advice about how to plan for life after being a police chief or sheriff.

ICAT: Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics

PERF's ICAT Training Guide takes the essential building blocks of critical thinking, crisis intervention, communications, and tactics, and puts them together in an integrated approach to training. ICAT is anchored by a Critical Decision-Making Model that helps officers assess situations, make safe and effective decisions, and document and learn from their actions. The training guide includes lesson plans, Powerpoint presentations, and sample scenarios. 

Law Enforcement Cyber Center

The Law Enforcement Cyber Center (LECC) is designed to assist police chiefs, sheriffs, commanders, patrol officers, digital forensic investigators, detectives, and prosecutors who are investigating and preventing crimes that involve technology. The LECC also directs visitors to strategic partners who provide training, technical assistance, and access to critical information. The LECC is a collaborative project between PERF, the DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Information Sharing Environment, and the RAND Corporation.