In his insightful book, The Infinite Game, the business leadership guru Simon Sinek asserts, “Great leaders are the ones who think beyond ‘short term’ versus ‘long term.’ They are the ones who know that it is not about the next quarter or the next election; it is about the next generation.”¹

As society makes its way toward 2030, police training is poised for an unprecedented evolution. This shift is driven by a rapidly changing societal landscape, groundbreaking technological innovations, and a critical imperative to rejuvenate the policing profession. Policing is navigating a complex labyrinth of immediate challenges, with leaders working in relentless cycles of crisis mitigation. However, in this vortex of change and challenges, police professionals must maintain their role as custodians of tomorrow. They must broaden their perspective, strategically planning for the next generation of police with foresight and vision.

Imagine a future where enhanced training and continuous professional development are fundamental, enabling officers to meet today’s challenges and adapt to tomorrow’s uncertainties. This vision does not diminish the advancements in police training that are currently being made. In fact, today’s police are receiving some of the most effective training in history. Many agencies and training programs have revolutionized their approaches with advanced instructional methodologies based on adult learning principles, and have significantly expanded their training curricula, focusing on topics such as de-escalation and crisis intervention for both recruits and veteran officers. Nonetheless, there is still a need to reevaluate the framework of police training, challenging existing paradigms to better prepare officers for the multifaceted demands of their roles.