improve life expectancy of patients . The use of checklists across complex fields such as health care , aviation , and engineering , have become commonplace and resulted in significantly improved operations and reduced mistakes .
Not unlike these other fields , contemporary police work is filled with volatility , uncertainty , complexity , and ambiguity , often referred to as VUCA . While police organizations have implemented areas of specialization such as medical , aviation , and engineering , the overwhelming number of police staff are focused on providing direct police services . Often referred to as the backbone of departments ’ service delivery strategy , line officers must deal with complex , rapidly evolving situations . This is particularly true for smaller agencies that compose the overwhelming number of departments across the nation .
As with the medical field , police tend to focus on high tech solutions . However , checklists provide a low cost , low-tech tool that is very effective in improving officers ’ responses to a variety of events .
Competing actions that are critical in an investigation or task , that can be overlooked or not completed in a timely manner , are addressed with confidence and competence , if prompted by a checklist . Tasks that can make or break a case or create pause in public confidence are addressed with the aid of checklists . In addition , checklists ensure agencies meet the challenge of media or elected officials ’ scrutiny of an event .
In a particular case where a checklist is critical , and fortunately experienced infrequently by most police departments , is a line-of-duty death of an officer . A checklist can provide the necessary direction needed for a rapid reaction and response to the deceased officer ’ s family , agency , and community . A checklist prompts an agency , often severely affected by the tragic loss of one their own , to respond in a manner that generates action for death benefits , honor guard protocol , administrative investigation obligations , family liaison assignment , funeral procedures , notifications , and a sundry of other tasks that will
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