Free Online Documents

The documents below are listed by topic. Click here to view the documents in chronological order or click here to view the documents in alphabetical order.

Active Shooters

• The Role of Police Executives in Assisting Victims of Mass Violence: Lessons from the Field (2020)
• Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office: Review of Active Attack Response and Preparedness (2018)
• The Police Response to Active Shooter Incidents (2014)
• Blair: United States Active Shooter Events from 2000-2010 (2013)

Budgeting

• Police Department Budgeting: A Guide for Law Enforcement Chief Executives (2002)

Community Policing

• Building Police-Community Trust in the Latino Community of Southwood in Richmond, VA (2019)
• Operational Strategies to Build Police-Community Trust and Reduce Crime in Minority Communities: The Minneapolis Cedar-Riverside Exploratory Policing Study (2018)
• Advice from Police Chiefs and Community Leaders on Building Trust (2016)
• Constitutional Policing as a Cornerstone of Community Policing (2015)
• Community Policing: The Past, Present, and Future (2004)
• Defining the Community in Community Policing (1998)
• Personnel Performance Evaluations in the Community Policing Context (1996)

Compstat

• Compstat: Its Origins, Evolution, and Future in Law Enforcement Agencies (2013)

Countering Violent Extremism

• Building Interdisciplinary Partnerships to Prevent Violent Extremism (2017)
• Promising Practices for Using Community Policing to Prevent Violent Extremism (2016)
• Video: Using Community Policing Strategies to Prevent Violent Extremism (2016)

Crime

• U.S. Attorney General's Summit on Violent Crime: Summary of Key Factors, Promising Strategies, and Additional Steps (2016)
• PERF Presentation on Gun Violence (2012)
• Gang Violence: The Police Role in Developing Community-Wide Solutions (2010)
• The Stop Snitching Phenomenon: Breaking the Code of Silence (2009)
• Violent Crime in America: What We Know About Hot Spots Enforcement (2008)
• Violent Crime in America: A Tale of Two Cities (2007)
• Violent Crime in America: 24 Months of Alarming Trends (2007)
• A Gathering Storm: Violent Crime in America (2006)

Cybercrime

• The Changing Nature of Crime and Criminal Investigations (2018)
• The Utah Model: A Path Forward for Investigating and Building Resilience to Cyber Crime (2017)
• The Role of Local Law Enforcement Agencies In Preventing and Investigating Cybercrime (2014)

DNA & Forensics

• It's More Complex than You Think: A Chief's Guide to DNA (2010)

Early Intervention Systems

• Supervision and Intervention within Early Intervention Systems (2005)

Economic Cutbacks

• Policing and the Economic Downturn: Striving for Efficiency is the New Normal (2013)
• Is the Economic Downturn Fundamentally Changing How We Police? (2010)
• Violent Crime and the Economic Crisis Part I (2009)
• Violent Crime and the Economic Crisis Part II (2009)

Eyewitness Identification

• A National Survey of Eyewitness Identification Procedures in Law Enforcement Agencies (2013)

FTO

• PTO: An Overview and Introduction (2001)
• PTO Manual (2001)
• PTO Trainee Manual (2001)
• PTO Training Standard (2001)
• PTO Training Course (2001)

Gun Violence Reduction

• Enhancing Law Enforcement's Role in Community Violence Interventions (2025)
• Reducing Gun Violence: What Works, and What Can Be Done Now (2019)
• The "Crime Gun Intelligence Center" Model: Case Studies of the Denver, Milwaukee, and Chicago Approaches to Investigating Gun Crime (2017)
• Gun Violence: Regional Problems, Partnerships, and Solutions (2015)
• Police Department Service Weapon Survey (2013)
• Gun Enforcement and Gun Violence Prevention Practices among Local Law Enforcement Agencies (2010)
• Guns and Crime: Breaking New Ground by Focusing on the Local Impact (2010)

Homicide

• Promising Strategies for Strengthening Homicide Investigations (2018)
• Promoting Effective Homicide Investigations (2007)
• An Examination of Homicide Clearance Rates: Foundation for the Development of a Homicide Clearance Model (2001)
• Homicide Investigation Standard Operating Procedures (1999)
• Automated Information Systems for Homicide Investigation: A Survey of Urban Police Departments (1999)

Human Resources

• Embracing Civilianization: Integrating Professional Staff to Advance Modern Policing (2024)
• Responding to the Staffing Crisis: Innovations in Recruitment and Retention (2023)
• Promoting Excellence in First-Line Supervision: New Approaches to Selection, Training, and Leadership Development (2018)
• Labor-Management Relations in Policing: Looking to the Future and Finding Common Ground (2011)
• Performance Evaluations in the Community Policing Context (1996)

Human Trafficking

• How Local Police Can Combat the Global Problem of Human Trafficking: Collaboration, Training, Support for Victims, and Technology Are Keys to Success (2020)

Immigration

• How Law Enforcement Can Better Engage Immigrant Communities: Promising Practices and Challenges form a National Survey and Regional Meetings (2024)
• Community-Based Identification Cards Give Immigrants a Sense of Belonging and Trust in Local Police (2021)
• Inventory of Promising Practices and Programs for Immigrant and Refugee Outreach (2020)
• Building Trust with Immigrant Communities: Best Practices for Law Enforcement Agencies in Smaller Cities and Towns (2020)
• Community Policing in Immigrant Neighborhoods: Stories of Success (2019)
• Strengthening Relationships between Police and Immigrant Communities in a Complex Political Environment (2018)
• T Visas Protect Victims of Human Trafficking And Strengthen Community Relationships (2018)
• Refugee Outreach and Engagement Programs for Police Agencies (2017)
• Responding to Migrant Deaths Along the Southwest Border: Lessons from the Field (2016)
• Local Police Perspectives on State Immigration Policies (2014)
• Voices From Across the Country: Local Law Enforcement Officials Discuss the Challenges of Immigration Enforcement (2012)
• HSAC Task Force on Secure Communities Findings and Recommendations (2011)
• Police and Immigration: How Chiefs Are Leading their Communities through the Challenges (2010)
• Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Speak Out on Local Immigration Enforcement (2008)
• Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Speak Out on Local Immigration Enforcement Appendix A-D (2008)
• Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Speak Out on Local Immigration Enforcement Appendix E-N (2008)

Juvenile Justice

• An Inclusive Approach to School Safety: Collaborative Efforts to Combat the School-to-Prison Pipeline in Denver (2018)
• Managing the Problem of Youth Access to Alcohol (2002)

Lawyers & Policing

• The Role of Lawyers in the Police Problem-Solving Process (2000)

Leadership

• The First Six Months: A Police Chief's Guide to Starting Off on the Right Foot
• An Innovative Approach to Training Future Police Leaders: The Chicago Police Department’s Executive Development Program for Sergeants (2022)
• Defining Moments for Police Chiefs (2015)
• Future Trends in Policing (2014)
• Good to Great Policing: Application of Business Management Principles in the Public Sector (2007)

Legitimacy

• Legitimacy and Procedural Justice: A New Element of Police Leadership (2014)
• Legitimacy and Procedural Justice: The New Orleans Case Study (2014)

Major Events

• Police-Media Interactions during Mass Demonstrations: Practical, Actionable Recommendations (2024)
• Rethinking the Police Response to Mass Demonstrations: 9 Recommendations (2022)
• Handling Large, Preplanned Events: Recommendations from Preparations for the 2016 National Political Conventions (2018)
• The Police Response to Mass Demonstrations: Promising Practices and Lessons Learned (2018)
• Managing Major Events: Best Practices from the Field (2011)
• Police Management of Mass Demonstrations: Identifying Issues and Successful Approaches (2006)

Mental Illness

• Managing Mental Illness in Jails: Sheriffs Are Finding Promising New Approaches (2018)
• Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project (2002)

Officer Wellness

• Call for Help: Treatment Centers for Police Officers (2025)
• Promising Strategies for Strengthening Police Department Wellness Programs (2021)
• An Occupational Risk: What Every Police Agency Should Do To Prevent Suicide Among Its Officers (2019)
• Building and Sustaining an Officer Wellness Program: Lessons from the San Diego Police Department (2018)

Police & Public Health

• Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Police Learned from One of the Most Challenging Periods of Our Lives (2021)
• Law Enforcement Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies: An Executive Summary of the Resources Series (2010)
• A Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety for Law Enforcement Executives (2010)
• Benchmarks for Developing a Law Enforcement Pandemic Flu Plan (2009)
• Communication and Public Health Emergencies: A Guide for Law Enforcement (2009)
• Police Planning for an Influenza Pandemic: Case Studies and Recommendations from the Field (2007)
• The Role of Law Enforcement in Public Health Emergencies (2006)

Police Equipment

• Body Armor Use, Care, and Performance in Real World Conditions: Findings from a National Survey (2012)
• A Practitioner's Guide to the 2011 National Body Armor Survey of Law Enforcement Officers (2012)
• The BJA/PERF Body Armor National Survey (2009)

Police Evaluation

• Measuring the Impact of the Maryland Police Accountability Act (2025)
• Implementation of the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 (2024)
• What Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Need to Know About Collecting and Analyzing Use-of-Force Data (2021)
• Implementing a Comprehensive Performance Management Approach in Community Policing Organizations: An Executive Guidebook (2015)
• Civil Rights Investigations of Local Police: Lessons Learned (2013)
• Implementing an Agency-Level Performance Measurement System (2006)
• Executive Summary of the Conference on Police Pattern or Practice Litigation (2005)
• The Bottom Line of Policing (2003)

Police Selection

• Hiring for the 21st Century Law Enforcement Officer: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies for Success (2017)
• Law Enforcement Selection: Research Summaries (2004)

Problem Solving & Community Policing

• Public Safety and Abortion Clinic Conflict and Violence (1999)

Racially-Biased Policing

• Understanding Race Data from Vehicle Stops: A Stakeholder's Guide (2005)
• By the Numbers: A Guide for Analyzing Race Data from Vehicle Stops (2004)
• Racially Biased Policing: A Principled Response (2001)

Sexual Assault

• Executive Guidebook: Practical Approaches for Strengthening Law Enforcement’s Response to Sexual Assault (2018)
• Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias in Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (2016)
• FAQs about the Change in the UCR Definition of Rape (2013)
• Fact Sheet: Implementation of the Revised UCR Rape Definition and VAWA Grant Funds (2013)
• Improving the Police Response to Sexual Assault (2012)

Sniper Report

• Managing a Multijurisdictional Case: Identifying Lessons Learned from the Sniper Investigation (2004)

Technology

• Body-Worn Cameras a Decade Later: What We Know (2023)
• Community Engagement Strategies for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement Unmanned Aircraft System Programs (2022)
• Roadmap to Implementing an Effective Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Program (2020)
• Wearable Sensor Technology and Potential Uses Within Law Enforcement (2020)
• How FirstNet Deployables Are Supporting Public Safety (2020)
• Drones: A Report on the Use of Drones by Public Safety Agencies—and a Wake-Up Call about the Threat of Malicious Drone Attacks (2020)
• Brazos County, TX Sheriff's Office: A FirstNet Early Adopter (2020)
• Beyond Signal Strength: Measuring Performance of Public Safety Mobile Broadband Networks (2019)
• Cost and Benefits of Body-Worn Camera Deployments (2018)
• Citizen Perceptions of Body-Worn Cameras: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2017)
• Implementing a Body-Worn Camera Program: Recommendations and Lessons Learned (2014)
• Social Media and Tactical Considerations for Law Enforcement (2013)
• "How are Innovations in Technology Transforming Policing?" (2012)
• Combating Auto Theft in Arizona: A Randomized Experiment with LPR Technology (2011)
• Law Enforcement Technology Needs Assessment: Future Technologies to Address the Operational Needs of Law Enforcement (2009)

Terrorism

• Patrol-Level Response to a Suicide Bomb Threat (2007)
• Community Policing and Terrorism Vol. 1 (2004)
• Community Policing and Terrorism Vol. 2 (2004)
• Community Policing and Terrorism Vol. 3 (2004)
• Community Policing and Terrorism Vol. 4 (2004)
• Community Policing and Terrorism Vol. 5 (2004)
• Community Policing and Terrorism Vol. 6 (2004)

Training

• Implementing the ICAT Training Program at Your Agency (2023)
• Transforming Police Recruit Training: 40 Guiding Principles (2022)

Use of Force

• Managing Officer-Involved Critical Incidents: Guidelines to Achieve Consistency, Transparency, and Fairness (2025)
• 15 Principles for Reducing the Risk of Restraint-Related Death (2024)
• ICAT for Jails: A Guide for Minimizing Use of Force in Correctional Facilities (2024)
• Implementing the ICAT Training Program at Your Agency (2023)
• What Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Need to Know About Collecting and Analyzing Use-of-Force Data (2021)
• Refining the Role of Less-Lethal Technologies: Critical Thinking, Communications, and Tactics Are Essential in Defusing Critical Incidents (2020)
• Suicide by Cop: Protocol and Training Guide (2019)
• ICAT: Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (2016)
• Guiding Principles on Use of Force (2016)
• Re-Engineering Training on Police Use of Force (2015)
• Civil Rights Investigations of Local Police: Lessons Learned (2013)
• An Integrated Approach to De-Escalation and Minimizing Use of Force (2012)
• 2011 Electronic Control Weapon Guidelines (2011)
• Managing Major Events: Best Practices from the Field (2011)
• Comparing Safety Outcomes in Police Use-of-Force Cases for Law Enforcement Agencies that Have Deployed Conducted Energy Devices and a Matched Comparison Group that Have Not: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation (2009)
• Conducted Energy Devices: Use in a Custodial Setting (2007)
• Strategies for Resolving Conflict and Minimizing Use of Force (2007)
• Conducted Energy Devices: Development of Standards for Consistency and Guidance (2006)
• Chief Concerns: Exploring the Challenges of Police Use of Force (2005)