Although a great deal of discussion centers on the issue of whether crime is increasing or decreasing in the United States, such a discussion never reveals the full story. When it comes to crime, no one just lives in the “United States”; everyone lives in a specific city, in a specific neighborhood. How violent crime is felt in communities, and how the policing executive is challenged to respond to it, is a much more nuanced story than crime numbers themselves would indicate. It is important for the accountable law enforcement executive to recognize that he or she is not alone in dealing with the thorny problem of violent crime. Violent crime has many components and there are many tools and partners available to help respond to it, including research institutions, peers, technology systems, government and non-government partners, and federal resources. All jurisdictions, however, have their own unique set of challenges, stakeholders, and resources. Consequently, there is no singular or static solution to violent crime. The Violent Crime Reduction Operations Guide outlines actions and activities that are relatable agency to agency and that have contributed to successful crime-fighting strategies throughout the country. Although the literature concerning violent crime is not sparse, this Guide complements existing conversations and offers a unique “for the field, by the field” perspective that combines best practices and research to assist all law enforcement executives in assessing their overall capacity and answering the question, “Where do we go from here?”
