Many individuals drawn to law enforcement are natural-born problem solvers. Because of this, communities often expect law enforcement to solve what sometimes seems to be an infinite number of problems, ranging from the prevalence of domestic abuse to the increased complexity of cybercrime. On top of these issues, law enforcement, as a profession, faces its own challenges: recruiting and retaining quality personnel, maintaining officer safety and wellness, and handling rising operating costs and declining budgets. Success in the law enforcement profession thus requires being prepared for an extremely diverse set of challenges.
Law enforcement professionals can prepare themselves to address these challenges by accessing the resources available at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) website, theIACP.org. TheIACP.org houses a multitude of policy documents, research studies, and day-to-day resources critical to law enforcement and public safety. Recently, to align with industry trends and best practices, the IACP enhanced and improved the website, adding features designed to help individuals and agencies easily find and access the resources they need. While the look and feel of the website have changed, its goal remains constant: to provide law enforcement personnel, sworn and non-sworn, the resources needed to protect and serve.
Topic Areas: Enhance Your Subject Matter Expertise
Law enforcement professionals need to be familiar with a wide range of issues. For this reason, one of the most valuable additions to the IACP website is the capability for users to browse through resources by topic. The website now has 22 topic areas by which its content is organized, including Community-Police Relations, Crime & Violence, Global Policing, Investigations, Leadership, Research & Evidence-Based Policing, Technology, and more. To access a list of resources related to a specific topic, select the “Topics” tab in the left-hand navigation menu from any page within the website.
Improved Search: Find the Precise Resources Your Agency Needs
While, as stated, law enforcement agencies around the world do face shared challenges, each agency also faces its own, specific set of challenges. The enhanced search function on the redesigned IACP website enables users to find the exact resources they need for their agencies and communities, including webinars, videos, audio files, training keys, resolutions, policies, and printable guides. To find a specific type of content related to a particular topic, select the “Search” button in the left-hand navigation menu, enter a keyword, and then filter the search results by content type.
Member Center: Access Exclusive, Actionable Information
Membership in the IACP greatly benefits professional development and offers members the opportunity to bring enhanced knowledge and skills back to their communities. The Member Center is a new addition to the IACP website that brings together all of the resources exclusively available to members. These resources include the IACP Law Enforcement Policy Center documents, Training Keys, Critical Issues messaging sheets, IACPreferred retail discounts, and an IACP member directory. To access all the content that the Member Center has to offer, go to the bottom of the left-hand navigation from any page and select “Log In.” Law enforcement professionals and website users who are not IACP members can gain access to the Member Center by selecting “Join” and becoming a member of the association. d
