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Evaluation Guide: Considerations for Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) and Crisis Response Program Evaluations

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Policing Institute (NPI) developed a comprehensive guide designed to help law enforcement agencies and their partners plan, implement, and enhance evaluations of crisis response programs and training initiatives.

Click Here to Read

Advanced Crisis Communication and Tactics (ACCT) Training

The National Policing Institute (NPI), in partnership with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and through the support of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is now accepting applications for law enforcement agencies to serve as pilot sites for a new national de-escalation and crisis response training curriculum, the Advanced Crisis Communication and Tactics (ACCT) Training. Three agencies will be selected to collaborate with NPI and PERF to plan, deliver, and assess this innovative, three-day in-service de-escalation training for sworn law enforcement officers.

 

Pilot sites will:

- Receive no-cost de-escalation training for 20–24 officers.

- Gain first access to the national ACCT curriculum and train-the-trainer materials.

- Benefit from technical assistance and support from national subject matter experts.

- Help shape the future of de-escalation training through feedback and evaluation.

 

Timeline:

- Applications Due: November 28, 2025

- Sites Selected: December 31, 2025

- Pilot Training: May–June 2026

Click Here to Apply

Generalized Stop and Frisk is Not the Answer: Improved Strategies for Violent Street Crime Reduction

The National Policing Institute has released a new OnPolicing Blog post by Michael R. Smith and Jim Burch, exploring three alternative strategies to stop, question, and frisk. The authors discuss how the alternative strategies could impact efforts to reduce violent street crime.

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New Blog Post: Building a (Police) Field of Dreams with Implementation Science

This OnPolicing blog explores how implementation science can help police agencies move beyond trial-and-error and toward sustainable, evidence-based innovation. Drawing on frameworks like EPIS and CFIR, the post outlines practical strategies for planning, executing, and sustaining change—from mental health response programs to officer wellness initiatives. It also highlights the importance of building trust, engaging stakeholders, and tailoring innovations to local contexts. For police leaders, implementation science offers a roadmap to lasting impact.

Click Here to Read

Harmful Organizational Stress in Policing: Can It Be Prevented or Reduced?

The National Policing Institute has published a compelling new entry on its OnPolicing Blog, spotlighting the critical issue of organizational stress within law enforcement agencies. The post explores the definition and impact of organizational stress, why it matters, and offers practical strategies for mitigating its effects.

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Charleston Police Department and Fairfax County Police Department Named First Knowledge and Innovation Host Sites for the Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab

The National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab is proud to announce the Charleston Police Department (SC) and Fairfax County Police Department (VA) as the inaugural Knowledge and Innovation Host Sites. These agencies will serve as national models for best and innovative policing practices in two critical areas of law enforcement.

Charleston Police Department has been selected as a Host Site for Recruitment and Retention, showcasing strategies that strengthen workforce sustainability, officer engagement, and efficiencies in the recruitment process. Fairfax County Police Department will serve as a Host Site for Use of Force, highlighting approaches to force review, and continuous improvement in use of force practices through a robust internal agency review process.

The Knowledge Lab is a first-of-its-kind resource hub that supports public safety by identifying and disseminating the most effective and innovative policing practices. Through these Host Sites, the Lab will facilitate peer learning, technical assistance, and strategic guidance to help agencies across the country elevate their performance. Additional Host Sites are forthcoming, offering learning opportunities for agencies focused on mass demonstration response, crime and violence reduction, criminal investigations, public transparency, and several other core practice areas.

These Host Sites represent the Knowledge Lab’s commitment to building safer communities through a foundation of excellence. By spotlighting agencies that are leading the way, the Lab aims to accelerate learning and impact across the field.

More information on how agencies can engage with and learn from these Host Sites will be available in the coming months. Agencies interested in accessing resources or requesting assistance can visit https://leknowledgelab.org or contact the Knowledge Lab team at leknowledgelab@policinginstitute.org.

The Columbus Model: Crowd Psychology, Dialogue Policing and Protest Management in the U.S.A.

This article examines the implementation of a dialogue-led protest policing model in Columbus, Ohio, based on the Elaborated Social Identity Model (ESIM). This framework, titled Public Order and Public Safety (POPS), incorporated dialogue, de-escalation, and graded tactical employment into its process.

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Midyear Violent Crime Survey National Totals

The Major Cities Chiefs Association released its midyear 2025 and 2024 violent crime report. Compared to the same period last year, member agencies have seen a decrease in violent crime.

Read the Full Report Here

NPI Consulting Services for Law Enforcement

The National Policing Institute (NPI) is excited to announce the expansion of its Consulting Services program, now offering five specialized services to help law enforcement agencies nationwide strengthen their operations and better serve their communities. Drawing on over 50 years of experience, NPI provides expert, data-driven guidance through Staffing Studies, Efficiency Analysis, Organizational Assessments, Workforce Wellness Analysis and Benchmarking, and Data Quality Assessments. These services are designed to help agencies allocate resources effectively, streamline operations, align internal systems with their mission, support officer well-being, and improve the integrity of their data. With a team of seasoned practitioners and researchers, NPI empowers agencies to strengthen their operations and better serve their communities.

Interested in working with NPI on something not listed here? Please reach out—we’ve supported agencies on a wide range of needs beyond these offerings. Visit our Other Services page to learn more, or contact us today to explore how NPI can support your agency's goals, contact us today.

Click Here to Learn More

Critical Incident Preparedness Toolkit: Assessing Capacity to Respond to Active Assailant Events

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has released a self-assessment tool designed to assist public safety and emergency response professionals, school administrators and security professionals, elected officials, and communities in considering potential active shooter scenarios and options for dealing with them. The tool proposes questions to determine an agency’s preparedness status in seven categories, offers guidance to inform next steps, and recommends resources for improving policies and practices to reduce community potential for mass violence, swiftly respond to incidents, and enhance trauma and support services in their wake.

Click Here to Read

Latest Resources

Visit the Knowledge Lab's full resource index

Guidebook/Tool | 2024

Preparing Law Enforcement Agencies for Embedded Clinicians

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Report | 2023

Dispatching Community Responders to 911 Calls

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Responding to Mass Critical Incidents

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

911 Dispatch Call Processing Protocols: Key Tools for Coordinating Effective Call Triage

  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Guidebook/Tool, Webpage | 2023

Community-Driven Crisis Response: A Workbook for Coordinators

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

Law Enforcement Response to People with Developmental Disabilities: Steps for Deflection or Pre-Arrest Diversion

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Guidebook/Tool | 2023

Rethinking the Police Response to Mental Health-Related Calls: Promising Models

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response

Report | 2023

Evaluating the Utility of Sobering Centers: Analyses of Police and Sobering Centers Across Five Jurisdictions

  • Crime and Violence Response
  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Stops, Searches, and Arrests

Research Brief | 2023

A Research Summary of ‘Assessing the Impact of Crisis Intervention Teams: A Review of Research’

  • Community Trust and Partnerships
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Use of Force

Empowering Law Enforcement Excellence

A Beacon of Guidance at the National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab

Explore targeted areas such as crime and violence reduction, use of force accountability and early intervention, and recruitment and retention. Elevate your agency's performance with our guidance and support.