Why Critical Incident Review is Vital for Police Leaders

Critical incidents are inevitable in policing. Officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, serious uses of force, and other high-risk events place immediate and long-term demands on police leadership. How an agency responds after such an incident often matters as much as what occurred during the event itself.

Critical incident review is a structured, leadership-level process that examines decision-making, supervision, communication, and organizational response following a significant event. When conducted properly, it is not about blame or discipline. It is about learning, accountability, and risk management.

Risk management in policing often turns on a simple principle articulated by internationally recognized public safety risk management expert and Lexipol co-founder Gordon Graham: “If it’s predictable, it’s preventable.” Critical incident review provides leaders with the opportunity to identify predictable failure points in supervision, training, communication, and post-incident processes and to address them before similar incidents occur.

For police leaders, critical incident review is vital for several reasons.

First, it provides clarity in complex situations. Critical incidents unfold rapidly and under stress, often involving incomplete or conflicting information. A structured review allows leaders to move beyond initial narratives and examine what decisions were made, what information was available at the time, and how command and supervisory actions influenced outcomes. This clarity is essential for informed leadership decisions.

Second, critical incident review reinforces supervisory responsibility. Leadership does not begin or end at the scene. Reviews examine how supervisors and command staff responded before, during, and after the incident, including communication, resource deployment, scene management, and post-incident oversight. This reinforces the reality that supervision and command decision-making are integral components of accountability.

Third, effective review supports organizational learning. Critical incidents expose strengths and weaknesses in policies, training, and practices. A well-designed review identifies patterns, gaps, and opportunities for improvement that may not be visible in routine operations. For police leaders, this information is invaluable in shaping training priorities, policy updates, and resource allocation.

Fourth, critical incident review plays a key role in risk management. Agencies that fail to critically examine their response to major incidents often repeat the same errors. Reviews help leaders identify systemic vulnerabilities, such as inadequate supervision, unclear policies, or inconsistent investigative practices, before those issues lead to future harm or liability.

Fifth, transparent and defensible review processes build credibility. Internally, officers are more likely to trust leadership when reviews are structured, objective, and focused on improvement rather than scapegoating. Externally, clear documentation of review processes demonstrates professionalism and accountability to oversight bodies, courts, and the public.

It is important to distinguish critical incident review from criminal or administrative investigations. While investigations focus on legal or policy violations, critical incident review focuses on leadership, systems, and organizational performance. The two processes serve different purposes and should not be conflated.

For police leaders, the value of critical incident review lies in its ability to transform difficult events into opportunities for improvement. When approached with independence, objectivity, and adherence to professional standards, critical incident review strengthens leadership decision-making, enhances accountability, and supports the long-term health of the organization.