The police investigate. It’s what they do. Well, at least it’s part of what they do. But even though the police do many, many things other than investigating crime, it’s the control of crime through the apprehension of perpetrators that drives much of the foundational perspectives people have about the police. Of course, there are many other facets of policing that also affect the trust and confidence people have in the police. Use-of-force and equity in law enforcement being chief among them. But it’s the effective or ineffective control of crime that police chiefs answer for every day.

Future Policing Institue Fellow Chief Rodney Monroe (ret.) has written a thoughtful article about the increasing importance of investigating crime and why the excellence in investigations in the standard police agencies should strive to achieve. Not just investigations – but excellent investigations. It is through the pursuit of objective, unbiased excellent investigations that the police will help increase the apprehension of violent offenders and minimize the instances of wrongful arrest and convictions in this country. To do everything possible to avoid wrongful convictions is a fundamental tenet of rightful policing.

Chief Monroe knows what he’s talking about. Throughout his multi-decade career he has pushed for excellence while at the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department and in the three police agencies he’s led after his retirement from the MPD. As a policing consultant throughout the U.S., and internationally, he continues to provide guidance to police leaders and elected officials that furthers the achievement of effective, empathetic and just policing. To read his article click here.