What Is a Police Performance Audit?

A police performance audit is a structured, systems-level evaluation of how a law enforcement agency performs key functions related to supervision, accountability, policy compliance, and risk management. Unlike a review of a single incident, a performance audit examines patterns, processes, and oversight mechanisms to assess whether an agency’s practices align with professional standards and stated policies.

The purpose of a police performance audit is not discipline or fault-finding. Instead, it is to identify strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement in how an organization functions. Audits are often requested in litigation, administrative reviews, consent-decree contexts, or proactive organizational assessments.

A performance audit may examine areas such as use-of-force review practices, supervisory oversight, investigative completeness, training compliance, early intervention systems, and internal accountability processes. Rather than focusing solely on outcomes, the audit evaluates whether systems are designed and operating in a way that reasonably promotes lawful, professional, and consistent performance.

Importantly, police performance audits are forward-looking. While historical data and past incidents may be reviewed, the emphasis is on whether current policies, training, supervision, and review mechanisms are capable of identifying issues, correcting deficiencies, and reducing future risk. This makes performance audits particularly relevant in organizational reform and risk-management contexts.

Audits are typically grounded in accepted law enforcement standards, contemporary best practices, and evidence-based principles. Findings are based on documentation, data, policy review, interviews, and objective analysis, rather than anecdote or advocacy.

In litigation and administrative matters, independent police performance audits can help courts, agencies, and organizations understand whether alleged issues reflect isolated events or broader systemic concerns. Clear, standards-based analysis allows decision-makers to distinguish between individual conduct and organizational performance.

When conducted properly, a police performance audit serves as a tool for accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. It provides a structured way to assess whether an agency’s systems support sound decision-making and professional practice.