In the wake of 2020’s seismic shifts in public perception, police agencies across the country are reevaluating their strategies for preventing crime. While reactive policing still dominates the landscape, there’s growing recognition that proactive strategies — built on research, precision and community engagement — offer a more sustainable path forward. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with one of the leading voices in evidence-based policing to discuss how officers and agencies can move beyond fear and resistance and toward effective, proactive crime reduction.
Dr. Cynthia Lum is a former Baltimore police officer turned professor of criminology, law and society, and director of George Mason University’s Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy. A national leader in translating research into practice, Dr. Lum discusses how police can break away from outdated “toolkits” and instead build smarter, more strategic approaches to patrol. She emphasizes that proactive policing isn’t about doing more stops — it’s about doing the right work in the right way, backed by data and shaped by mentoring, organizational support and critical thinking.
Additional resources
- Evidence-Based Policing: Translating Research into Practice by Cynthia Lum and Christopher Koper
- The Evidence-Based Policing Matrix: A research-to-practice translation tool that collects, summarizes and organizes moderate to very rigorous evaluations of police interventions, allowing agencies and researchers to view the field of research in this area.
- Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy George Mason University
About our sponsor
This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.
Key takeaways from this episode
- Officers need more than traffic stops in their toolkit: Proactive policing must go beyond generalized patrols. Officers need a diverse set of strategies — including problem-solving, community engagement and data-driven targeting — tailored to specific crime types and neighborhood needs.
- Infrastructure and leadership support are essential: Effective proactivity isn’t possible without structural support. Departments must revise CAD systems, reward proactive behavior, provide mentorship and ensure consistent supervision at all ranks to encourage evidence-based practices.
- Real deterrence comes from smarter engagement, not just presence: The “4 Gs” — go to, get out, go up to and go in — guide effective hotspot policing. Short, focused engagements can create a halo effect of deterrence, especially when officers return unpredictably and with purpose.
- Technology is only as good as the strategy behind it: Tools like real time crime centers and crime analysis software can support proactive policing, but only if agencies use them strategically rather than reactively. Investing in analysts and integrating information is key.
- Policing is an intellectual profession: To be truly proactive, officers must think critically, solve complex problems and engage communities empathetically. Evidence-based policing empowers officers with the knowledge and mindset to do just that — and it starts with a willingness to be open, learn and lead.
Rate and review the Policing Matters podcast
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Policing Matters team at policingmatters@police1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.
