The Power of Scorekeeping in Law Enforcement

Performance, Recruitment, Retention

Are you a scorekeeper? If you're competitive, chances are you've been keeping score your entire life, starting with report cards in elementary school, which are, in essence, scorecards. You compared your grades against those of your classmates. When you were the Captain responsible for picking your kickball teammates at recess, you chose the ones who could kick the ball the furthest and play the best defense. You didn't need a measuring tape to know who could kick the furthest, but if you used one, you might settle the difference between who everyone considered the best. Conversely, you wouldn't need it to understand why somebody was picked last.?

If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score? - Vince Lombardi

As we age, the nature of scorecards evolves. In sports, we track performance through box scores and statistics. Academically, tests like the ACT or LSAT gauge our knowledge. Whether we like it or not, these scorecards play a pivotal role in shaping our futures, influencing opportunities in education and athletics, and determining the colleges or teams that might recruit us. At work, we have performance evaluations. While we often acknowledge the subjective nature of assessments, there are always hard metrics that must be addressed. Sure, there are good and bad ways to conduct them, but they all tell a story.?

Even in an era where participation trophies are common, we must acknowledge the undeniable significance of scorecards. For instance, consider Monday's NCAA National Championship game in basketball, where the University of Connecticut faced my Purdue Boilermakers. As #1 seeds, both teams demonstrated that rankings and performance metrics—essentially scorecards—matter significantly in determining such positions. How do I know this? If forced to bet my life savings on who would win the NCAA tournament, I sure as hell would not have picked a #16 seed to win it all. They might upset a team or two along the way, but there is a reason why a #16 seed has never won it all and never will. While I didn't get the final pick correct, I accurately predicted the final two teams. The data (and a little bit of my heart) informed my decision.?

Without data, you are just another person with an opinion. - Edward Demming

But what about beyond sports and academics? In law enforcement and public safety, scorecards are equally critical. Every year, we report our crime "scores" to our communities. We gauge some measure of success or failure on what these numbers are telling us. Internally, we use things like clearance rates to evaluate agency performance and understand where we compare to other departments across the country, helping us to determine where we stand. Even if these data are incomplete and often misunderstood, they still force a comparison.?

This brings me to this week's discussion. Have you ever evaluated your recruitment and retention efforts for your agency??

I hosted Daniel Folk, CEO of Performance Protocol, this week on The Coptimizer Podcast. Daniel highlighted the evolution of performance coaching, its profound impact on law enforcement, and the progress made over the last several years.

Our conversation revealed an interesting new strategy and tool, based on experiences with police chiefs and agencies, to help agencies understand their recruiting efforts. The need for innovative solutions in policing is undeniable, and while performance coaching is at the forefront of this transformation, it also helps to know where we are starting.

The changing landscape necessitates streamlined processes and comprehensive support for applicants. "The Scorecard" concept provides a detailed analysis of law enforcement recruiting and retention, offering a benchmark for agencies to enhance their practices.

So, what's the takeaway for you? Whether in sports, education, or law enforcement, scorecards are more than numbers. They are a reflection of performance, a guide for improvement, and a tool for comparison. As we anticipate the survey results, we're reminded of the importance of data-driven decisions in improving individual and agency performance in public safety.

Heart and passion are irreplaceable, but the reasoned analysis provided by "scorecards" cannot be ignored. They offer a clear perspective on performance and potential, which is essential for making informed decisions in high-stakes environments.

Don't get me wrong, there is much more to improving agency performance than scorecards, but it should allow us to use them to drive progress, enhance recruitment, and retain high-quality police employees.

Are you curious where your agency stacks up? Join us on this journey to optimize performance and drive meaningful change in public safety. Complete the scorecard to find out more!

Take the Performance Protocol Scorecard

For more on my conversation with Daniel, subscribe to any of your favorite podcast providers or watch it here!

The Coptimizer Podcast with Daniel Folk

Together, we can make a real difference in our communities.

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