The Critical Imperative We Can’t Ignore in Making Policing Safer for Officers
- Brainz Magazine
- Jun 7
- 4 min read
Written by Adam Conn, Sirens to Strategy
Adam Conn is well-known for his work in frontline innovation and wellbeing support for emergency services. He is the founder of The Squad Group, creator of the Coffee for Coppers initiative, and a former Metropolitan Police Officer turned strategic advisor and entrepreneur.
The statistics don’t lie. The risks are real. The time for action is now. Every day, police officers across the globe put on their uniforms knowing they may not return home. This isn’t dramatic rhetoric, it’s the harsh reality of modern policing. While we debate policy and procedures, one fundamental truth remains unchanged: officer safety must be our absolute priority before we lose more heroes to preventable tragedies.
The stark reality for officers
The numbers paint a sobering picture. Officer assaults continue to rise, with thousands of law enforcement personnel injured in the line of duty annually. Behind each statistic is a family waiting for their loved one to come home, a community losing a protector, and a profession hemorrhaging dedicated individuals who simply want to serve and protect.
But here’s what troubles me most: many of these incidents are preventable with the right tools, training, and technology.
The cost of inaction
When we fail to prioritize officer safety, we don’t just risk individual lives, we jeopardize entire communities. Every officer lost or injured represents:
Families shattered by preventable tragedy
Communities losing experienced, dedicated protectors
Departments struggling with recruitment and retention
Society losing trust in law enforcement capabilities
The ripple effect extends far beyond the badge. When officers don’t feel safe, they can’t effectively serve and protect others. When departments can’t retain experienced officers, entire communities suffer.
Innovation exists but adoption lags
The frustrating reality is that life-saving technologies and methodologies exist today. From advanced protective equipment to de-escalation tools that work in seconds rather than minutes, the solutions are here. Yet adoption remains painfully slow, often hindered by budget constraints, bureaucracy, and resistance to change.
I’ve witnessed firsthand how breakthrough technologies like CD3 (Conductive Distraction and De-escalation Devices) can transform dangerous encounters into manageable situations in under three seconds. International police forces implementing these solutions report dramatic reductions in officer injuries and use-of-force incidents.
The question isn’t whether these technologies work, it’s why we’re not implementing them faster.
The human cost of delay
Every day we delay implementing proven safety solutions, we’re gambling with lives. Consider this: if your family member was heading into a dangerous situation, wouldn’t you want them equipped with every possible protection? Our officers deserve nothing less.
The stories that haunt me aren’t just statistics, they’re personal. I think of PC Nicola Hughes and PC Fiona Bone, and countless others who might still be with us if they’d had access to advanced safety technologies. Their sacrifice demands action, not just remembrance.
A call to action
Making policing safer isn’t just about equipment, it’s about mindset, investment, and urgency. We need:
Immediate implementation of proven safety technologies in all departments, not just those with generous budgets.
Strategic investment in officer protection that goes beyond traditional equipment to embrace innovative solutions.
Cultural change that prioritizes getting officers home safely above all other considerations.
Leadership commitment from department heads to government officials who control budgets and policies.
The path forward
The solution isn’t complex, it’s about priorities. Every budget meeting, every equipment decision, and every policy discussion should start with one question: "Will this make our officers safer?"
We have the technology. We have the knowledge. What we need is the will to act with the urgency this crisis demands.
Before it’s too late
The title of this article isn’t hyperbole, it’s a warning. Every day we delay implementing life-saving solutions is another day we risk preventable tragedies. Our officers have answered the call to serve and protect. Now it’s our turn to protect them.
The families waiting at home, the communities depending on their service, and the officers themselves deserve nothing less than our absolute commitment to their safety. The time for half-measures and gradual implementation has passed.
We must act now, decisively and completely, to ensure that every officer who puts on the badge has every possible protection available. Their lives depend on it. Our communities depend on it. Our future depends on it.
The question isn’t whether we can afford to make these changes, it’s whether we can afford not to.
What will you do today to make policing safer? The time for waiting is over.
Read more from Adam Conn
Adam Conn, Sirens to Strategy
Adam Conn is a leader in frontline innovation, wellbeing, and purpose-driven enterprise for the emergency services community. A former Metropolitan Police Officer, Conn has dedicated his post-service career to supporting those on the front lines. Through his company, The Squad Group, he is working to equip Police and Prison Officers with The Glove—a groundbreaking Conductive Distraction and De-escalation Device (CD3) that offers safer intervention options. Alongside initiatives like Coffee for Coppers and Coffee for Heroes, his mission is clear: to protect those who protect us.
