Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based Law Enforcement
Part One
Proactive Actions versus Reactive Actions.
It's a dichotomy faced by those who provide law enforcement in the United States.
While reactive actions are more typical, those actions typically take place after something goes wrong: An individual drives a car through an intersection while a red light is displayed on the traffic signals. An individual breaks into a retail store and steals products. An individual in a position of trust steals funds from a client.
Proactive actions are less typical. Those actions typically take place before something goes wrong: Traffic signalization that anticipates traffic volumes at different times of the day. Theft reduction techniques that defeat the purpose of stealing specific products. Random audits of individuals in positions of trust.
Reactive actions can typically be justified. Those actions can be seen as directly related to activities that have taken place.
For example, victims of a specific type of criminal activity may have similar reactions to one another: "We don't want anyone else to go through what happened to us." Reactive actions to that specific type of criminal activity now become priorities for law enforcement.
Resources – funds and personnel, for example – can be prioritized as part of reactive actions. Those not directly involved can justify those resources as being necessary so that "no one else has to go through what happened to the crime victims."
Proactive actions can be more difficult to justify.
It can be difficult to prove that actions need to take place before problems occur.
It can be difficult to devote resources – funds and personnel, for example – to deal with problems that have yet to take place or are not yet considered priorities. Those not directly involved can justify not using those resources because they are not necessary at this time – that there are more important priorities that need those resources today.
Zero-Based Law Enforcement is based on proactive actions and techniques that focus on minimizing the need for reactive law enforcement.
To best be able to understand Zero-Based Law Enforcement, the next news column in this series will focus on specific characteristics of law enforcement as it is practiced today in much of the United States.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2025 Richard McDonough
