What resource in your law enforcement agency is unlimited and can be in many places at one time? "Information" is the answer, and actionable knowledge produced by analyzing it increases its general value. Police agencies produce massive volumes of information daily as new crimes are reported, calls for service logged, arrests made, and citations given. Parole and probation reports, open source information, and other types of data can be analyzed with that data to uncover possible correlations to crimes.
With advances in information technology, local police departments can access and use their wealth of information in innovative ways. Instead of focusing on arrest after a heinous act is committed, we can and must learn to create and use knowledge to prevent victimization, just as we focus on preventing terrorism. We can use our resources most effectively through developing the role of knowledge work in policing. We can learn to ask new questions so that we can maximize the use of this growing information resource. Who knows what we might learn?
Not understood in law enforcement
I've been reading about knowledge work for at least a decade, but it doesn't seem to be an understood subject in law enforcement. Ten years ago, in more prosperous times, the emerging concept of knowledge work emphasized that workers who use information, inventiveness and thinking skills would be most successful in our growing global economy. Since the traditional concept of "work" involving physical labor had been outsourced or modernized to reduce the costs of production, this made some sense. Add the capabilities of digitized information into the mix and new knowledge became much easier to produce, opening doors for the growth of knowledge work. Yet many people, in and outside of policing, still don't consider its value. With the economy going down the tubes with no quick recovery in sight, I think knowledge work will become even more important. Those who use knowledge to leverage resources effectively will be on top. But will it be the police or the villains? They have the same information technology tools and they aren't restricted by bureaucracy and tradition.
Many police agencies operate under the assumption that the information that results from new technology equals new knowledge. Modern industry has also operated under this false assumption. Technology only helps us to produce information in new forms that are more accessible for analysis, but this improved information productivity does not create knowledge. Only human interpretation can give meaning to information. That is why you need to dedicate staff to the task of analysis. That's why you need to consider what new things we might discover in the wealth of our information resources.
Knowledge work emphasizes effective and innovative use of cutting edge information technology. Those of you who have struggled with obtaining and integrating the right technology for your particular agency know that the adaptation of technology in policing has been a rocky road. Knowledge work thrives in a well-designed and executed technology infrastructure. The knowledge workers are your well-trained crime and intelligence analysts because they will focus all their energies on mastering the analysis of your information.
Tacit knowledge
Policing relies primarily on "tacit knowledge." Tacit knowledge refers to the knowledge officers have about crime, criminals, and public disorder, which is not knowledge that is written down or articulated to share or pass on to others. Depending on tacit knowledge presents significant problems. For example, if officers do not want to admit that they have problems they can't solve, or don't believe that the problems can be addressed in new ways; they are unlikely to go to others for help. Thus, the knowledge others have will not get to them. If a police agency has analysts on staff who are trained and who generate meaningful information (knowledge), officers will be informed without having to ask others for help and will discover new ways of looking at the issues faced on the street. If the political atmosphere of the police department sanctions formal analysis and it becomes "politically correct" to make use of an analyst's expertise, more knowledge will flow through a police organization.
If formal analysis is developed using professional analysts and instituted in larger police departments, some of the institutional knowledge of police officers may be captured, incorporated into the knowledge base of the police organization and made available to many. The role of the analyst will complement that of the police officer, rather than replace it, and will expand the knowledge base of police organizations. Analysis done proactively to find new knowledge, not just in reaction to a request from end-users, will bring currently unimagined insights.
As civilian analysts become more important, their development of knowledge work will result in win-win situations. Sworn officers will be more knowledgeable with the support of formal analysis. Officer will get credit for arrests and be appreciated by the public in the improved role of information-sharer. Leadership can take credit for reductions in crime as resources are used more effectively. Analysts will be happy to see the fruit of their labor utilized.
Researchers from universities have tried to assist local law enforcement with knowledge creation and information support. Often the researchers impose their own research designs on these agencies. Since police culture is known to be resistant to change and suspicious of outsiders, the world of academia is unlikely to infiltrate most police departments, especially in terms of intelligence work. This is why the creation of the analyst's role as an internal researcher, working for and with police officers is the best way to incorporate research findings into the street level of policing.
There will come a day when police departments value knowledge as much as police cars, laptop computers, guns, and the presence of officers. It may be "who you know" that has helped you thus far to stay safe and do your job. Tomorrow may bring a tool just as valuable, or more so, called "actionable knowledge." What do you want to know? Ask new questions.
