Proactive Prevention Strategies, LLC

05/25/2026

Today, we remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Remember. Honor. Never forget.

05/22/2026

I have been thinking a lot about how we prepare future law enforcement and criminal justice professionals.

There is a clear gap between research and real-world police practice when it comes to evidence-based policing, problem-oriented policing, proactive crime prevention, and practical prevention strategies.

That gap does not only exist among people already working in the field. It also affects those who are just beginning their education and may eventually enter law enforcement, crime analysis, probation, corrections, prosecution, victim services, or other public safety roles.

I am exploring the idea of developing a semester-length undergraduate criminal justice elective focused on Proactive Crime Prevention in Modern Policing.

The goal would be to introduce students to evidence-based policing, problem-oriented policing, the SARA model, data-informed decision-making, place-based strategies, community partnerships, and realistic crime prevention approaches in a way that is practical, understandable, and connected to real-world policing.

I would love to hear from those in law enforcement, criminal justice education, and public safety:

Would this type of course be useful for undergraduate criminal justice students?

And does anyone know of a local college/university (in the CNY area), or maybe an online criminal justice program that may be interested in this type of course or an adjunct instructor with real-world practitioner experience in proactive crime prevention?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, and maybe some connections to institutions who may be interested!

05/22/2026

What a great trip to Washington, D.C. for the 10th Annual American Society of Evidence-Based Policing Conference.

Thank you to the team at The American Society of Evidence-Based Policing for putting together such an important event for the profession. Conferences like this bring together researchers, practitioners, leaders, and innovators who are all working toward better policing, stronger public safety, and safer communities.

It was a great opportunity to meet and network with professionals from across the country, share ideas, and learn from others committed to advancing evidence-based policing.

The conference also reinforced my desire to keep helping bridge the gap between research, academia, and the practical realities of policing. There is tremendous value in the research, but we also need to translate it into realistic, understandable, and usable strategies for officers, supervisors, and leaders. That includes helping agencies and officers institutionalize evidence-based policing and problem-oriented policing as part of everyday practice.

I was honored to speak with Dr. Cynthia Lum and Dr. Christopher Koper, both of whom have been tremendous inspirations to me and to the fields of evidence-based policing and problem-oriented policing. I was grateful for the chance to gift them copies of my books and thank them personally for the impact their work has had on the field.

I also had the pleasure of meeting David Cowan, Detective Superintendent with Victoria Police in Australia and President of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Evidence-Based Policing. We exchanged books, and it was great to connect with him and learn more about the work being done internationally to move evidence-based policing forward.

Outside of the conference, I took the opportunity to visit several of our nation’s monuments and historic places, including a quick stop at Gettysburg during my travels. With our country approaching its 250th anniversary, seeing these places in person was a powerful reminder of our nation’s history, freedoms, sacrifices, and shared responsibility to strengthen our communities.

I also made it a point to visit the sacred grounds of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, only one week after National Police Week. Seeing the displays, flowers, notes, and memorials honoring fallen officers was incredibly moving and a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by so many brave men and women in law enforcement.

For anyone interested in learning more about ASEBP or becoming a member, you can visit: https://americansebp.org/

Overall, this was a great trip, conference, and opportunity to learn, connect, and reflect. I’m grateful for the experience and already looking forward to the next one.

Smarter Policing. Safer Communities.

05/21/2026

I’m working through a publication idea and would appreciate input from those involved in policing, supervision, leadership, analysis, research, training, or implementation.

The focus is on the practical questions first-line supervisors and command staff should be asking when trying to implement proactive crime prevention, evidence-based policing, and problem-oriented policing.

Not just the theory, but the real-world questions that determine whether these efforts actually work.

Some questions I’m already thinking through include:
• What is the objective?
• What are we trying to accomplish?
• What does success look like?
• Who is responsible for what?
• Is what we are currently doing working? If not, why?
• What does the data actually tell us?
• Are we addressing the real problem or only the most visible symptoms?
• Are officers and supervisors properly supported?
• What resources, training, or partnerships are needed?
• What unintended consequences should be considered?
• How will success or failure be measured?
• Is this simply a policing initiative, or is it truly a public safety plan?

My question is:
What other questions should first-line supervisors and command staff be asking?

What gets overlooked?

What causes these efforts to fail?

What needs to be asked before, during, and after implementation?

I’d welcome your thoughts, suggestions, examples, or real-world practical perspectives.

05/20/2026

Police work will always be difficult and complex, but that cannot be the reason we stay stuck in the same way of doing things.

My latest blog post, “More Than Response: Building a Realistic Proactive Mindset for Cops,” looks at why proactive crime prevention, evidence-based policing, and problem-oriented policing need to be translated into practical, everyday police work.

This is about helping officers and supervisors ask better questions, identify repeat problems, use data, and work smarter to reduce harm.

Read the full article here:
https://www.proactivepreventionstrategiesllc.com/post/more-than-response-building-a-realistic-proactive-mindset-for-cops

Smarter Policing. Safer Communities.

Why evidence-based and problem-oriented policing must be translated into practical, everyday police workLaw enforcement has always changed. Sometimes that change happens gradually through leadership, training, experience, and research. Other times, it happens suddenly after a major incident, public....

05/12/2026

Officer wellness is not talked about enough.

When we talk about proactive crime prevention, we often focus on safer communities, fewer victims, reduced repeat calls, and better outcomes.

But there is another important piece to this conversation.

Every problem prevented is one less crisis someone has to respond to. Every victimization prevented is one less trauma for a victim, a family, a community, and often the officers involved.

That connection matters.

Proactive strategies support safer communities, but they also support healthier officers. When agencies prevent repeat problems, reduce victimization, proactively address high-risk places, intervene earlier, and work with partners before situations continue to escalate, they are also helping reduce the number of traumatic scenes, repeated calls, and difficult moments officers have to carry with them over the course of a career.

That is an important component of officer wellness too.

Law enforcement is an incredibly stressful profession. Officers are exposed to repeated trauma, pressure, conflict, danger, long hours, missed family time, and emotional strain throughout their careers.

Over time, that takes a serious toll.

I know it did for me.

In August of 2024, I made a personal decision to take my health more seriously. I knew I needed to make changes, and I began working toward becoming healthier — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Over the last 21 months, the results have been significant. I have lost 50+ pounds, reduced my BMI by more than 7 points, and substantially improved my A1C. Those numbers matter, because they reflect more than weight loss. They reflect a larger effort to take control of my health and my quality of life.

In August of 2025, I also made the decision to retire from a law enforcement career that I loved. I am extremely proud of my 24 years of service, but I also recognized that it was time to take care of myself and my family in a different way.

Since retiring, my health has continued to improve. I have lost nearly 20 additional pounds, reduced my BMI by nearly 3 more points, continued to improve my A1C, and my blood pressure has greatly improved as well. Just as importantly, I feel better. I feel less stressed, less anxious, more relaxed, and less exhausted.

I share this not because everyone’s path will look the same, but because the message is important.

Better health is possible. Change is possible. But it requires being honest about where you are, what the job may be doing to you, and what steps you need to take before your health, your mindset, your family, and your quality of life suffer any further.

For veteran officers, pay attention to your health. Listen to your body. Be honest with yourself and your family about the toll the job may be taking. Staying on the job well past retirement eligibility is a personal decision, but it should never come at the expense of your health, your peace, or your family. Knowing when it is time to step away is not weakness. Sometimes it is one of the healthiest decisions you can make.

For younger officers, start taking care of yourself now. Do not wait until the end of your career to focus on your physical and mental health. Build healthy habits early. Talk to someone when you need to. Make your family a priority. Do not allow the job to consume every part of who you are.

For leaders, pay attention to your officers. Offer support. Give them avenues to be healthier. Encourage them to use the resources available to them, whether that means fitness facilities, peer support, counseling, chaplain services, wellness programs, or professionals who actually understand the realities of this career. Talk with your people. Let them vent when they need to. Watch for signs that the job is wearing them down. When possible, give them space after difficult or traumatic incidents. Set the example yourself and make wellness part of the culture, not just something mentioned once in a policy or during annual training.

Officer wellness should not be treated as an afterthought. It should be part of how we prepare, support, supervise, and sustain the people who serve our communities.

I loved my career, and I always will. But I am also grateful that I recognized what I needed when I did and took the steps necessary to become healthier.

Your health matters. Your family matters. Your peace matters.

And taking care of yourself — and your officers — is not weakness. It is wisdom.

05/10/2026

This week is National Police Week.

For me, it is more than a graphic, a post, or a date on the calendar. It is a time to pause and remember the men and women who answered the call, served with honor, and never made it home.

As a retired law enforcement officer, I will always have a deep respect for those who wear the badge, the families who support them, and the sacrifices that are often carried quietly.

To those who continue to serve, thank you.

To those we have lost, we remember.

Respect. Honor. Remember.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers and mother figures who give so much of themselves each and every day. Thank you for your love, strength, and unwavering support. Wishing you a beautiful and well-deserved Mother’s Day.

From Proactive Prevention Strategies, LLC

05/08/2026

Have you ever wished there was a simpler way to understand the SARA model and quickly assess whether a planned response is realistic, practical, and workable in the real world?

That is the purpose of this simple SARA + R.E.A.L. visual reference.

The SARA model provides a step-by-step problem-solving process:
Scan — What is the problem?
Analyze — Why is it happening? Where is it happening? When is it happening? Who is involved or affected?
Respond — What should we do to address it?
Assess — Did it work? Why or why not?

The R.E.A.L. test helps determine whether the response is practical enough to succeed:
Realistic — Does it fit the agency’s staffing, time, authority, and resources?
Executable — Can the people responsible actually carry it out?
Adaptable — Can it be adjusted as conditions change?
Lasting — Can it create meaningful and sustainable improvement over time?

Put simply, SARA helps work through the problem. The R.E.A.L. test helps determine whether the response can actually work for the agency.

For those in the field who may not have the time or interest to read through longer explanations, this visual provides a plain-language reference that is easy to understand, easy to explain, and easy to apply to real-world crime, disorder, repeat-call, and public safety problems.

Smarter Policing. Safer Communities.

05/07/2026

For ten years, the ASEBP Conference has brought together leaders, researchers, and practitioners committed to advancing evidence-based policing.

This year marks a milestone. A decade of progress shaped by: evidence, innovation, impact, growth and collaboration. From advancing evidence-informed decision-making to strengthening partnerships between research and practice, the field has continued to evolve, delivering measurable change across policing strategy, policy, and operations.

The 10th Annual ASEBP Conference continues this momentum. Join us May 20–22, 2026 at the AU School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC.

Register today:
https://whova.com/portal/registration/OFX1Qm2qEb0YKke97MOM/

Explore the agenda and be part of the next decade:
https://whova.com/embedded/event/r-VdICVxpuePVukKlK8qUxdZCNLX6PNu82gUkm8nBno%3D/?utc_source=ems&refer=undefined&day=0