This book offers a brilliant convergence of the highly successful Six Sigma and CompStat business principles with a far more effective application of community policing. The book makes a compelling case for a holistic management approach to move law enforcement into a new era of proactive policing.

Leading Beyond Tradition: A Breakthrough Strategy
for Law Enforcement
By William E. Cooper, Chief of Police (ret.)
3 – Star Publishing (2005)
Reviewed by Bette Daoust, Ph.D. for Reader Views (3/06)

Although I do not have any experience in law enforcement, I have come
to appreciate all that the Police do for our society. It is through many
struggles, budget cuts, and lack of resources that we tend to criticize
inadequacy and lack of response from those enforcing the law. The real
meaning of law enforcement is often wrapped in political rhetoric that
stymies the police force that we so need to make sure we are free from
harm.

I have been in corporate America for a number of years and have dealt
with problems of communication, budget, and working with thinly
populated teams. The struggle to gain profits while maintain
effectiveness and efficiency is always a challenge. This challenge is
further complicated when you add layers of customers to the mix. In
policing, the customers range from residents in prisons, victims of
crime, perpetrators, to government officials, reporting hierarchies, the
courts, and the people of this nation. No other type of organization has
these complications to the same extent as in Policing.

Mr. Cooper’s book takes into account all of the customers and the
internal staff to bring to the forefront salient issues that affect us all. His
insight on how to implement strategies such as Six Sigma and The
Balanced Scorecard into the traditional organizational structure of
policing is insightful and his ideas bring about results. He delves into
process mapping, problem solving, and handling the limits of budget and
resources. His study of the 911 system and the impact of its use for
emergency and more often non-emergency calls bring home the fact
that Policing is bursting at the seams with calls that are non-relevant.

His comments on the use of volunteers show that these volunteers can
help alleviate some of the non-emergency problems. Mr. Cooper’s case
studies illustrate how some crimes are committed and even though there
are witnesses, no one called the police because they deem that the police
are too busy. The case discussed further illustrates the need for citizens
to form liaisons with the police in order to reduce the amount of crime
in any particular neighborhood. His case studies show that policing is
like any organization, it needs to be systemized and made efficient in
order to be more effective.

Even if you are not into policing, this book is a good read for anyone
considering implementing strategies such as Six Sigma and The
Balanced Scorecard. The book was so interesting; it was difficult to put
down.