In the law enforcement (LE) arena innovation does happen at all levels, but bureaucracy intervenes to slow the process down and the gains made. Here the need to have an audit trail for all actions taken, even the background i.e. intelligence processes, acts as a barrier.

Innovation in LE is invariably IT related, all too often with great promise and very mixed results. The old adage "round up the usual suspects" takes on a new life and can mean limited vision.

The best innovations are those not communicated upwards quickly and allowing for any real successes to be too valuable to discard.

Bureaucracy -v- Innovation a thread in it's own right.

I'd reverse Slapout's theme and put senior commanders back on the ground floor, maybe not the frontline. Evene a few days should suffice.

davidbfpo