Market Disruptions and Policing

How Flexibility, Innovation, and Embracing Youthful Creativity Can Help the U.S. Criminal Justice System

Renowned business consultant and educator Peter Drucker said, “Not to innovate is the single largest reason for the decline of existing organizations.” Drucker was, of course, speaking with business in mind, but his wisdom is universal. Policing is, in many ways, just another customer service business. Admittedly, police officers deliver a unique product—public service and community safety—but it is a customer service business, nonetheless. Faced today with a serious market disruption and an uncertain landscape ahead, the business of policing must make a choice—innovate or risk being rendered ineffective. Stretching the bounds of the historically rigid law enforcement culture and opening the door to the new and different ideas of the next generation of leaders is crucial to ensuring police officers can effectively serve the public—their customers—well into the future.