Police decisions—both tactical and strategic—are under greater scrutiny than ever before, particularly in the United States.

One poor decision by an officer in the field can play out in national headlines, with convulsive repercussions for communities and countries. It begs the question: how are the decisions of officers being made? Are they based on the fullest breadth of relevant information, well-informed and proportional to potential threats, ensuring the best possible outcome? Due to the fractured nature of the law enforcement information landscape, the answer is almost certainly “no,” and the consequences can be catastrophic. Fortunately, a powerful but familiar innovation in the private sector can serve as a model of what well-informed decision-making in law enforcement can and should be.