ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q3-2023

THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF RISK MANAGEMENT DURING OFF-DUTY WORK

WILLIAM VARANELLI, NA SESSION 262

Law enforcement agencies face numerous challenges in today's dynamic and evolv ing landscape. Risk management plays a pivotal role in ensuring the protection of agencies, officers, and the communities they serve. Throughout my 25-year law enforcement career, retiring as a police captain, I've learned the importance of risk management from exceptional mentors. T oday's officers must protect their communities under extremely difficult conditions where even the most minor incident can erode the public trust that was years in the making. These incidents often surround officers' conduct while on duty but, at times, may involve their conduct while off duty or work ing an off-duty assignment. When a liability issue arises with an off-duty assignment, all parties involved often end up in media headlines. These parties usually include the officers involved, the police chief, and the private business that hired the officer. Ques tions can arise concerning the steps the agency and chief took to build a system capable of preventing the issue. In my experience, five common principles can significantly improve risk management strategies. Agencies need to consider prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. PREVENTION: DATA-DRIVEN INTELLIGENCE FOR EF FECTIVE DECISION MAKING In many agencies, there is a gap between the operational department and the administration. This gap can challenge or ganizational legitimacy, as officers at the operational level create microcultures that tend to push policy a little bit. In the case of

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30 FBINAA.ORG | Q3 2023