Associate JanFeb 2015

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Bob Harrison
WHY
SHOULD COPS
STUDY THE
FUTURE?
J A N 2 0 1 5 F E B
22
A recurring class offered by the FBI’s National Academy is
an Introduction to Futures Studies. In a recent assessment
of the NA’s curriculum, the class was strongly endorsed as
being critical for police leaders and a necessary component
of the program. One sentiment expressed was that futures
study was a“transformative experience”in the development
of one executive’s career. At the same time, the expectation
of NA graduates to become “futurists” is quite low. Once a
student leaves the classroom, it is not uncommon for them
to be much more focused on the issues and events of day to
day law enforcement than to spend time “gazing into their
crystal ball” to find out what might happen next.