It can be difficult to break from the routine and prepare for visitors to come in and see operations, but it can be extremely beneficial to do so. Aside from the obvious benefits derived from a hands-across-the-water approach to things, it helps your agency to prepare to accept the constructive criticism that all good law enforcement agencies need in order to properly evolve. It may seem easier to lock the doors and bolt the windows shut and keep the world out, but it isn't. Since the end of the last century, the public craves and demands openness in government, and the law enforcement community is one of their chief areas of concern. Opening the agency up to the scrutiny of others can go a long way toward appeasing any civilian critics who aren't afforded an inside look at things.

The Open House

At some point, most law enforcement agencies recognize the need to throw open the doors and let the public look inside, and they shouldn't feel invaded or unduly used when they do. Law enforcement agencies are public institutions and need to be accessible to those who foot the bill for them. This doesn't mean they should be wide open to anyone who wants to wander in any time, day or night, but it does mean that accessibility now and then satisfies public curiosity and helps curb the development of resentment because no public access is permitted.

By embracing the public rather than suspecting it of potential future wrong-doing, law enforcement officers can develop some of the best sources of information they will ever know. Most crimes are not committed in a vacuum, away from the eyes of everyone; most are blatantly and brazenly carried out under the very noses of innocent bystanders who may be afraid of reprisals by the perpetrator. Witnesses often fail to come forward for fear of involvement in the situation, and because they don't know law enforcement well enough to trust it to keep them safe. They may also be concerned about the potential inconvenience that will follow with identification and court proceedings. Some fear public ridicule for getting involved, but most of all, they have little or no positive relationship with law enforcement and lack an incentive for doing the right thing.

Getting to know agents during times of calm provides hope to both the agent and the citizen. That hope for a better relationship is something that requires the two parties to have an understanding when it comes to solving a crime and bringing criminals to justice.

Invitation Only

Inviting other departments and other agents to come and see the inner workings of your agency can do more than just grease the wheels of interagency cooperation. By alerting neighboring agencies to the capabilities of your department, you will give personnel from that agency a sense of what can be expected in the way of assistance should the need arise. They will know from the outset that your department is limited by the amount of equipment and manpower that you have, so their expectations in a crisis will not exceed capabilities. This is also an excellent way to solicit opinions from other agents regarding the equipment maintained by your agency. Often, other departments will have purchased similar items and have the benefit of experience in the field with such equipment. Obtaining an experienced viewpoint can be helpful in not only the use of the particular item, but in regard to future purchases of similar items.

Formal Inspection

Law enforcement has a mechanism for identifying and acknowledging agencies that rise to the highest standards of accountability and professionalism. Certification of departments can be done at the state, national, and international level by a variety of accrediting agencies. For the most part, certification occurs when the agency adheres to a recognized standard for training, protocols, discipline, budgeting, documentation, and reporting. Although few changes in procedures within the agency tend to happen, certification is a process where management codifies procedural matters so that everyone in the department has a clearer understanding of what is expected in a given circumstance.

The certification or accreditation process is pretty much a doors-open operation. Personnel from the accrediting agency need to be able to see firsthand how things are done and how actions are accounted for to ensure compliance with accreditation standards. It is not a process that happens overnight, but takes months, and sometimes years, to complete.