Police Executive Research Forum

Research: perf conducts a range of research projects and publishes findings in reports for police practitioners, the news media, and the public. In 2024, perf's research team examined the police response to civil disturbances; police partnerships with local businesses to address crime issues; and law enforcement's role in community violence interventions.

Demonstration and technical assistance: perf studies best practices and emerging issues in policing. Issues addressed in 2024 included: responding to the rise in carjacking; reducing the risk of restraint-related death; integrating civilian staff into police agencies; engaging immigrant communities; and police accountability.

Membership: perf's membership is comprised of thousands of law enforcement executives, federal government officials, academics, researchers, and others with an interest in policing and criminal justice issues. Perf holds meetings, conferences, and other events, and communicates with its members on a daily basis. Perf's daily clips service is a daily newsletter featuring the most compelling news media stories about issues in policing. Perf's executive director also sends out a weekly column called "perf trending," which focuses on a current topic in policing and provides updates on activities at perf.

Management services: perf provides management consulting services to police agencies. Perf offers comprehensive organizational studies; strategic planning; training development and review; guidance on recruitment, hiring, and retention; development of use-of-force policies and training; and analysis and review of internal affairs and other disciplinary policies and cases.

Communications: perf's communications department manages the editing and production of perf reports, as well as managing perf's website, fielding news media inquiries about issues in policing, and maintaining perf's presence on social media.

Executive search: over the past 20 years, perf has helped more than 200 cities, counties, and other jurisdictions identify the best candidates for police chief and other leadership positions. Perf has published several books on executive development for policing professionals, such as "command performance: a career guide for police executives," "the first six months: a police chief's guide to starting off on the right foot, and "chapter 2: how police chiefs and sheriffs are finding meaning and purpose in the next stage of their careers."