Should the Investigating Mitigating Progressive And Critical Trends, IMPACT, Team continue the reporting of emerging trends? Should the reporting be terminated or should another entity, such as the Advisory Committee, assume this role?

At the full Commission meeting held in West Sacramento on October 27, 2016, the Commission chose to disband the Strategic Plan and Organizational subcommittee and, in lieu thereof, require the presentation of an emerging issue trends report beginning as of the next full Commission meeting in February 2017.  At the conclusion of the October Commission meeting, POST staff assigned responsibility for identifying and evaluating emerging trends to the IMPACT Team at POST.

The IMPACT Team is a group of employees comprised of a bureau chief and six POST staff from various bureaus.  This voluntary team interviews third parties and/or reviews past and current Command College projects to get a sense of emerging issues facing organizations throughout the state.  Command College is a 14-month executive development program administered by the Training Program Services Bureau.  Command College is specifically designed to prepare law enforcement leaders for the challenges of the future, focusing on:

• Leadership principles needed to influence the future direction of the organization
• Strategies to identify emerging issues and provide a proactive response
• Skills and knowledge necessary to anticipate and prepare for the future

In its current construct, the IMPACT Team interviews third parties and/or reviews Command College "futures portfolios" to ascertain possible emerging trends. The IMPACT Team has limited direct contact and/or connection to the field and are heavily reliant on what students might theorize in papers.

A possible alternative to this approach, would be to assign this task to the Commission's Advisory Committee.  The function of the Advisory Committee by definition is to:

"...perform a key role as part of the Commission’s team by providing a two-way communication link between the Commission and organizations that share an interest in the Commission’s work.  The committee meets prior to each triannual Commission meeting to review and analyze topics the Commission will later address.  Advisory Committee members represent associations and organizations within the California law enforcement community, educators, and the public-at-large.  Therefore, they provide valuable input on many contemporary and evolving issues in law enforcement, helping the Commission and POST better serve California's peace officers and the citizens they protect.  Appointed by the Commission for a term of three-years."

The Advisory Committee is made up of individuals who represent a cross section of California and, by virtue of their everyday dealings, have a "finger on the pulse" and can assess emerging trends. 

Should the Commission decide to continue a report on emerging trends, staff recommends that the Advisory Committee, which is better suited to provide real time, real world information, be tasked with the responsibility of reporting and presenting such report.