The Hidden Impact of Transnational Organized Crime on Front-Line Law Enforcement

As the tools of the law enforcement profession have evolved from the days of a billy club and whistle to body-worn cameras and Tasers, so have the tools available to criminals and criminal organizations. Although technology has advanced and policies have changed for frontline law enforcement officers, providing for both increased efficiency and a better way to police communities, the value of knowing the community has not diminished. Frontline law enforcement is most effective when officers know who and what their respective problems are, from the constant drunk and frequent shoplifter, to the problem house and open-air drug market. While each community has its own distinct challenges, a shared problem is impacting many towns, cities, and communities across the world that often goes unrecognized and unaddressed: transnational organized crime.