If law enforcement officers are worried about choosing the right online certification to enforce law and order, don't worry—we have the perfect solution. Let’s discuss some easy steps to getting this much-needed and highly valued certification.

The first step is to see what different types of in-person and online courses are available relevant to the law enforcement field. It is essential to determine this because several specific certifications are available, so law enforcement officers will want to find the right one for themselves.

The next step is to see which certifications are relevant to what officers want to learn. Once they have jotted down a solid list, it is time to start reviewing them. Why? Because each certification course or program comes with different requirements, costs, and ease of access.

So, officers must review them to see if they fit the eligibility criteria and the course fits the needs. Moreover, they can also see if they have time to commute for face-to-face learning. If not, choosing law enforcement online classes is an excellent option. This will further help shorten the list of possible law enforcement certifications.

In this step, officers will review the shortlisted certifications for which they are eligible and then look for accredited certifications. Finding a program accredited by an authorized and recognized organization is essential. 

It ensures that the program outline and curriculum meet the quality standards accepted in the market. Moreover, employers will recognize such a certification. IADLEST is one such organization that accredits different certification programs for law enforcement, such as detectives, police officers, and crime analysts.

Once the officers have chosen the best certification program for law enforcement, the next step is to enroll in that program. Many courses provide online study materials and online testing. These courses are more accessible for officers to complete at their own pace and convenience, wherever they are.

Lastly, officers must complete the course in which they enrolled. They must complete all the coursework, assessments, and training efficiently. Then, these officers will be eligible to gain the certification at the end of the course.

With increasing rates of crimes in the US, it is essential to find out newer and more efficient ways to fight, control, and eliminate crimes. Data evaluation and analysis provide an efficient way to fight crime on daily basis.

How?

Let’s build a real-time case to understand this.

In 2020, the crime rates in the USA increased by a lot. Aggravated assault increased by 11.7%, motor vehicle theft increased by 11.4%, and murder increased by 28.9% in the whole country. It was an alarming situation that shocked everyone.

What if we had not been caught off guard but prepared instead?

Through statistical and data analysis, we know many crimes increased in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. People were locked in their homes, many lost their jobs, and many had little human support throughout that time of seclusion. Some people became financially, mentally, and emotionally unstable. Many lost their sources of income, and many became susceptible to depression. This, all in all, lead to this situation being ripe for an increase in criminality across the country.

What if we had measured the statistics in the hour of need? 

We would have found that the ratio of unemployed people was growing, and the percentage of aggression and depression was increasing among people. And with this knowledge, we could have expected crimes like theft (which might stem from financial instability) and aggravated assault (which might stem from aggression and depression) to increase in the coming weeks and months.

With this insight, preventive measures could have been taken in advance. So now you can understand with a clear standpoint why data is so crucial to fighting crime.  As such, every law enforcement professional should have data gathering, evaluation, and analytical skills for more effective crime control.

BlueForce learning is an online certification platform for law enforcement professionals, with offerings such as Microsoft law enforcement certifications. We offer online law enforcement certifications accredited by IADLEST, an organization that oversees the ‘National Certification Program (NCP)’ in order to establish law enforcement training standards across the US.