In today’s environment, every decision you make as a Chief is closely scrutinized; from city hall, the community, even your own people. Experience and instincts remain critical, but data now plays a central role in supporting those decisions. The data is there, but the real power comes from knowing which questions to ask the people who live in that data every day: your crime analysts.

Analysts work in the details of that data every day, uncovering patterns, context, and insights that can strengthen leadership choices. The following questions are designed to deepen conversations between Chiefs and their analysts. It’s about ensuring that data is not just collected, but turned into strategy, foresight, and impact.

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1. What’s our crime picture right now? Beyond the numbers.

Statistics like crime rates only tell part of the story. Ask for context: patterns, community impact, and the difference between reported crime vs. actual incidents. This provides a fuller view and helps lead to strategic action.

2. Where are our current and emerging hot spots?

Looking ahead means asking not just where crime has happened, but where it is most likely to occur next, based on trends, shifts, and calls for service.

3. Which offenders and groups are driving the most harm?

Identifying prolific offenders, organized theft crews, or gang activity can have an outsized impact. Your analyst can show you who is disproportionately affecting public safety.

4. Do our current patrol and resource allocations match demand?

Is your staffing pattern still based on last year’s needs, or last decade’s? A data-backed review of deployment patterns against actual calls and peak hours helps confirm whether resources are keeping pace with today’s realities.

5. How effective are our recent initiatives?

Whether it’s a DUI crackdown, a burglary task force, or a youth engagement program, measuring outcomes, not just outputs, ensures resources are moving the needle. It is the old adage: “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.”

6. Are we pairing community sentiment with crime data?

Trust is as important as numbers. Your analyst can help pair incident data with survey results, complaints, and social media sentiment for a complete picture.

7. What seasonal or event-based patterns should we anticipate?

Whether it’s tourist season, a local festival, or the start of school, predictable spikes happen every year. Analysts can help prepare proactive deployments and prevention strategies before the event starts.

8. Which of our units are excelling, or perhaps, under strain?

Data can highlight which units are producing exceptional results, and which ones are carrying heavier burdens. This helps you recognize high performers and provide relief where it’s needed most.

9. Where are the gaps in our data?

Analysts often see the blind spots first: data that is incomplete, outdated, or siloed. A quick gap analysis can fix these issues to strengthen decision-making.

10. Ask them “if you were chief for a day, what would you change based on the data?”

Your analysts have unique insights and patterns they’ve seen for years. Sometimes their outside-the-command perspective uncovers straightforward, high-impact improvements.

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Why This Matters Now

Analysts are more than “numbers people.” They are your navigators in a complex, fast-moving environment. The more precise your questions, the sharper your strategies become, and the stronger your results will be.

At ForceMetrics, we’ve seen how a Chief’s curiosity paired with an analyst’s insight transforms agency impact. Precision policing platforms like Velocity™ give you a real-time, unified view so you can have these conversations with facts, and act before small issues become big headlines.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating space to ask the right questions.

When seconds count, ForceMetrics Velocity™ delivers, and connects the data that saves time and lives.

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