Proactive Prevention Strategies, LLC

10/16/2026

What an incredible week in Daytona Beach!

As the 2026 Florida Crime Prevention Association(FCPA) 57th Annual Training Conference comes to a close, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the FCPA, its leadership, organizers, and members for such a wonderful experience.

From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms and made to feel right at home. It was refreshing to be surrounded by so many like-minded professionals who share a genuine passion for proactive crime prevention and making our communities safer.

I was particularly impressed by Florida’s commitment to advancing proactive crime prevention. From embracing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to strengthening community partnerships, building relationships, and addressing the underlying conditions contributing to crime, it’s encouraging to see so many professionals working to move law enforcement beyond simply responding to calls for service.

Equally impressive was the FCPA’s dedication to recognizing the officers and agencies putting these principles into practice. A special congratulations to Officer Toni Anne Torres of the Sanford Police Department, who was named the 2026 Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year! It was a pleasure meeting her and presenting her with copies of my three books. It’s encouraging to see professionals like Officer Torres receive recognition for their dedication to proactive crime prevention and the communities they serve.

Another personal highlight was having the honor of meeting Art Hushen, a pioneer in CPTED and founder of the National Institute of Crime Prevention. Having the opportunity to speak with him, exchange books, and share our passion for proactive crime prevention was truly special.

I was also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to present “Proactive Crime Prevention: A Practical Game Plan.” Having the opportunity to share practical strategies, real-world experiences, and ideas for advancing proactive crime prevention with such a dedicated group of professionals was an honor. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity and thoughtful recognition from the association.

And, of course, Daytona Beach provided some unforgettable memories along the way, from beautiful ocean sunrises to witnessing an incredible SpaceX rocket launch over the Atlantic!

But above all, it’s the people who made this week so memorable. I’m leaving with new knowledge, meaningful professional connections, and tremendous admiration for the work being done throughout Florida.

My hat is off to everyone at the FCPA and the dedicated professionals advancing crime prevention across the state. Thank you for the warm welcome, genuine hospitality, and commitment to making a difference. I truly hope our paths cross again soon!

The FCPA truly hit it out of the park! ⚾

Smarter Policing. Safer Communities.

10/14/2026

🏈 Every Great Sports Team Has a Playbook. Shouldn't Every Police Department?

I'm excited to share that my latest article was published in American Police Beat this week!

The timing couldn't have been better, as it was published the very same day I presented "Proactive Crime Prevention: A Practical Game Plan" at the Florida Crime Prevention Association Conference in Daytona Beach.

In policing, we spend a tremendous amount of time responding to calls, investigating incidents, and dealing with problems as they arise. But how often do we stop to consider whether we're actually making progress toward preventing those same problems from happening again?

Successful sports teams don't simply show up and react to whatever happens on the field. They prepare, study their opponents, develop strategies, work together, and adjust their game plans when necessary.

Why should policing be any different?

My latest article explores how we can apply that same mindset to law enforcement, with an emphasis on proactive crime prevention, teamwork, leadership, and developing practical strategies to address recurring public safety problems.

Whether you're an officer, supervisor, command staff member, or someone involved in community safety, I encourage you to take a few minutes to read it. My hope is that it provides some useful perspective and gets people thinking about how we can work smarter, not just harder.

I've shared a brief introduction on my Proactive Prevention Strategies website, along with a link to the full article published by American Police Beat.

👇 Check it out here:
https://www.proactivepreventionstrategiesllc.com/post/every-great-sports-team-has-a-playbook-shouldn-t-every-police-department

Smarter Policing. Safer Communities.

My Latest Article Published in American Police BeatI'm pleased to share that my latest article, Every Great Sports Team Has a Playbook: Shouldn't Every Police Department?, has been published in the American Police Beat publication.In law enforcement, we spend a tremendous amount of time responding t...

10/13/2026

Every sports fan has watched a game where the same thing keeps going wrong. The defense cannot stop the run. The quarterback keeps getting pressured from the same side. The […]

10/13/2026

Every Great Sports Team Has a Playbook. Shouldn’t Every Police Department?

New Article Published in American Police Beat

I’m pleased to share that my latest article, Every Great Sports Team Has a Playbook: Shouldn’t Every Police Department?, has been published in American Police Beat.

The article explores the connection between successful sports teams and effective policing, particularly the importance of preparation, teamwork, leadership, and having a practical game plan for addressing recurring public safety problems.

The timing couldn’t be better, as these same principles are central to my presentation, Proactive Crime Prevention: A Practical Game Plan, at this year’s Florida Crime Prevention Association Conference.

I appreciate American Police Beat providing the opportunity to share these ideas with the law enforcement community, and I encourage officers, supervisors, command staff, and others involved in public safety to check out the article.

Read the full article, published by American Police Beat:

Every Great Sports Team Has a Playbook

https://apbweb.com/2026/10/every-great-sports-team-has-a-playbook/

Written by Michael S. Burgess, M.S.S. (Ret.), Founder & CEO of Proactive Prevention Strategies, LLC.

Every sports fan has watched a game where the same thing keeps going wrong. The defense cannot stop the run. The quarterback keeps getting pressured from the same side. The […]

10/11/2026

Checked in and ready for a great week at the 57th Annual Florida Crime Prevention Association Training Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida!

Looking forward to a week of learning, sharing ideas, networking with fellow crime prevention professionals, and bringing home some new perspectives and practical strategies.

I’m also excited to have the opportunity to present on Tuesday, October 13, with my session, “Proactive Crime Prevention: A Practical Game Plan.”

Looking forward to some great conversations and a productive week!

Smarter Policing. Safer Communities.

10/10/2026

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬?

Across the country, law enforcement agencies are responding to recurring challenges involving homelessness, substance use, behavioral health, public disorder, and quality-of-life concerns.

These issues often overlap, but they are not necessarily the same problem. And treating them as though they are can lead to responses that provide temporary relief without producing lasting improvements.

Police officers are frequently expected to address situations that extend well beyond the traditional responsibilities and capabilities of law enforcement. Enforcement certainly has its place, but it cannot be the entire strategy.

So, what does a more effective approach look like?

In my latest article, “𝘽𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨,” I explore why understanding the underlying problems, recognizing their connections, and bringing the right partners to the table are essential to developing meaningful, sustainable solutions.

The goal isn't to remove law enforcement from the equation. It's to recognize that lasting improvements in public safety require a coordinated effort, with each partner contributing what they are best equipped to provide.

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬.

Read the full article here:
https://www.proactivepreventionstrategiesllc.com/post/beyond-enforcement-a-coordinated-response-to-the-complex-challenges-surrounding-homelessness

10/06/2026

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬.

So why does so much of policing still happen on the right side?

I don’t believe it’s because cops don’t care about prevention. And I don’t believe most officers consciously choose reactive policing over proactive crime prevention.

𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼.

Think about traditional police training. We spend tremendous amounts of time teaching officers what to do after something happens.

Respond to the call. Control the scene. Conduct the investigation. Collect evidence. Make the arrest. Write the report. Prepare for court.

All of that is necessary. 𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.

But how much time do we spend teaching them to ask:
𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜—𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣?

Researchers and practitioners have spent decades studying crime and identifying strategies that can reduce it. Problem-oriented policing, hot-spots policing, focused deterrence, CPTED, data-driven strategies, partnerships, and other evidence-based approaches aren't new.

But there is still a significant gap between 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 and 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲.

A research article sitting in a journal doesn't change what happens on the midnight shift.

Neither does telling officers at roll call to “𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚.”

We have to translate research into practice:
𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙪𝙨. 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩. 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙚’𝙡𝙡 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙.

Maybe the officers standing in that line on the right aren't the problem.

Maybe the line represents a system that has spent decades training very capable people to become excellent responders—without investing nearly enough in teaching them how to become equally capable problem-solvers.

And maybe it's time we change that.

𝐈𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞.

𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐡𝐨𝐰.

𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.

10/05/2026

𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝 — and for me, this one hits especially close to home.

National Crime Prevention Month is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about crime prevention strategies, promote community safety, and encourage residents, law enforcement, schools, businesses, and community organizations to work together to make neighborhoods safer.

That mission is exactly why this month means so much to me.

Crime prevention has been at the center of much of my career and continues to drive the work I do today through Proactive Prevention Strategies.

Too often, public safety becomes focused on what happens after the call comes in. But some of the most meaningful work happens when we step back, look at the bigger picture, identify recurring problems, bring the right people to the table, and ask a different question:
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚?

That is what proactive crime prevention is about.

It means using data, problem-solving, technology, partnerships, leadership, and community engagement to address the conditions that contribute to crime and disorder — not simply responding to the symptoms over and over again.

That philosophy is what led me to create Proactive Prevention Strategies, what inspired my books, and what I continue to teach and advocate for today.

And the timing could not be more fitting.

Next week, during National Crime Prevention Month, I’ll be presenting "𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘈 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯" at the Florida Crime Prevention Association Annual Conference — sharing practical strategies agencies can use to move from reactive response toward proactive prevention.

Because crime prevention should never be just a campaign, a program, or something we talk about for one month each year.

𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲.

𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.

10/03/2026

For the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching in Oneida Little League, and I’m also proud to serve on the Little League Board. While I’m not coaching this fall, I’m grateful to be able to support the league in a different way.

Proactive Prevention Strategies is proud to sponsor this great group of kids! ⚾️

One of the things I’ve always loved about coaching is that so many of the lessons we try to teach kids through sports are the same ones I valued throughout my career in law enforcement — teamwork, communication, accountability, preparation, leadership, resilience, and looking out for the person next to you.

Those lessons matter on a baseball field, in a police department, and really anywhere people are working together toward a common goal.

I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of years serving this community in different ways, and I’m proud that through my business I now have another opportunity to give back.

Proud to support these kids and Oneida Little League! ⚾️