Solutions to the challenges police officers have faced over generations have sometimes come from within the profession. Other times, they have been mandated by case law, civil lawsuits, or federal consent decrees — often in response to abuses of power or police overreach. But when it comes to finding creative ways to do our job better, advances frequently stem from the bright minds of police personnel themselves or innovations from private companies.
We are at a critical time where we need to work together as an industry to bring our service model to the next level. One proven way to foster innovation is through police think tanks, which bring officers of all ranks and from various agencies together to collectively evaluate and share ideas for improving or tackling key issues. This top-down and bottom-up approach allows for diverse perspectives and helps develop best practices that departments can adopt. Who better to fix a problem or improve a practice than the officers who experience it firsthand? Think tank exercises provide a structured tool to do just that.
Choosing a focus and structuring the event
Think tanks can address a wide range of topics, from media relations and community policing to police suicide prevention. The possibilities are endless — departments can organize sessions on improving patrol operations, officer wellness, or career development through internal mentoring programs.
These events typically last three to four hours, recognizing that officers have tight schedules, especially in agencies with limited manpower. Once a topic is determined, the next step is to reach out to local experts and invite them as speakers. Many professionals will be honored to contribute to such an initiative and may even be willing to present for free. Three to four speakers are recommended to cover at least half of the allotted time. Their presentations provide valuable insights and serve as thought-provoking primers for the most important portion: the think tank discussion itself.
The “Idea Incubator”
This is where the real value of the think tank emerges — every participant shares their perspective on the issue. The process is simple: go around the room and allow each officer to discuss what their agency is doing (if anything) and what they believe should be done to improve a situation or practice.
Participants may hear about new tactics or programs for the first time and think, We need to do this at our department, or I never thought of that before. These lightbulb moments help officers think about issues in a different light, leading to real-world applications of new ideas. This portion of the event acts as an Idea Incubator, sparking change across agencies.
To guide the process, attendees should receive key discussion questions in advance, either at the start of the event or via email beforehand. For example, if the topic is community policing, questions could include:
- What is your department currently doing relative to community policing?
- What are your most effective community policing programs?
Building lasting connections
At the conclusion of the program, officers can network, exchange business cards and share contact information. Many will follow up by emailing policies or paperwork that their agency uses, providing valuable frameworks for others to adapt and implement.
Law enforcement will always face new challenges, and no one is better suited to develop solutions than the officers themselves. Regional police think tanks offer a practical, cost-effective way to foster collaboration and innovation. By thinking together, we can create meaningful change.
Key questions for police chiefs before organizing a think tank
Before launching a police think tank, department leaders should consider the following questions to ensure a focused and productive discussion:
- What problem or challenge do we want to address?
- Is this a longstanding issue, or a new challenge emerging in policing?
- What impact does this issue have on officers, the department and the community?
- Who should be involved?
- Should this include only sworn officers, or should civilian staff, legal experts and community stakeholders also participate?
- Do we want a mix of frontline officers, supervisors and command staff to provide diverse perspectives?
- What structure will work best for our agency?
- Should this be a one-time event or a recurring think tank?
- Would an in-person meeting or a virtual session allow for greater participation?
- How can we ensure officers feel comfortable sharing ideas?
- Do we need to create a structure that allows for anonymous input or breakout groups?
- How do we encourage participation from officers at all ranks?
- What do we want to accomplish?
- Are we looking to generate immediate solutions or start a long-term discussion?
- Will we create a report or action plan summarizing key takeaways?
- How will we follow up?
- Who will be responsible for tracking progress on the ideas that emerge?
- How do we ensure the best solutions don’t just stay in the room but lead to real change?
Interested in setting up a regional police think tank in your area? Email tom.wetzel@universitycircle.org for insights and information.
