June 2026
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If an agency has no meaningful evaluation process and no remediation structure, it often has no practical way to distinguish between an officer who needs coaching, one who needs a formal improvement plan, and one who should not remain in the profession.
No system will work, however, if the evaluators themselves are not trained. Rater training is paramount. Supervisors must know how to observe behavior, document performance, apply standards consistently, avoid common rating errors, and give useful feedback. Without that, even a well-designed evaluation system will become inflated, inconsistent, and vulnerable to challenge.
Considering these concerns, New Jersey should give serious consideration to requiring every law enforcement agency to adopt and maintain a comprehensive, jobspecific performance evaluation policy as an essential element of professional accountability and organizational risk management. If the state now requires an active law enforcement license to wear the badge, it is reasonable to expect agencies to demonstrate how they are monitoring and documenting the ongoing professional performance of those who hold that license.
In the end, this issue is about professionalism, fairness, accountability, and prevention. Police evaluations should not exist to punish good officers or create pointless bureaucracy. They should exist to protect the public, help officers improve, strengthen supervision, and give agencies a fair and defensible mechanism to address substandard performance before that performance results in avoidable harm. New Jersey has already made the important decision to treat police officers as licensed professionals. The logical next step is to evaluate them as professionals.
About the Author
Don Pavlak is an adjunct professor of criminal justice who holds a master ' s degree in human resource management and an Ed. S. in Leadership. He retired after a 35-year career as a police officer in a large North Jersey police department, where he served in a variety of operational and leadership roles. His academic and professional experience provides a practical perspective on issues involving law enforcement leadership, organizational accountability, and personnel management.
2026 NJSACOP Professional Development Calendar
Privately Made Firearms June 9, 2026 Burlington County EMS Training Center CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Front Line Supervision Course September 14- 17, 2026 Middlesex County Police Academy SOLD OUT
Contemporary Issues in Police Administration September 14- 18, 2026 The National Conference Center / Holiday Inn CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The NJSACOP Gettysburg Leadership Experience October 16- 18, 2026 SOLD OUT
From Street to Strategy: Managing Police Operations October 23, 2026 Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Foundation for Executive Leadership October 12- 15, 2026 The Doubletree Hotel- Eatontown CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Front Line Supervision October 26- 29, 2026 Gloucester County Police Academy CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Front Line Supervision November 16- 19, 2026 Monmouth County Police Academy SOLD OUT
OPRA and Records Management for Law Enforcement Supervisors, Officers, and Clerks November 17- 18, 2026 Middlesex County Fire Academy CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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