To transform police administration today, we simply need better information. We have to arm police chiefs, command staff and frontline supervisors with crisper, clearer information to make better, more informed professional standards decisions.

We’ve all seen the headlines. And perhaps for some, it’s more than a headline — but rather a living reality. Across the U.S., law enforcement agencies big and small have been experiencing a shortage of officers to meet the demands of the cities and towns they so diligently serve. There are several reasons why, but a few stand out as critical factors.