Inside Our Impact – November
The National Policing Institute team proudly presents Inside Our Impact, a newsletter dedicated to sharing NPI’s stories and those who make our work possible. Each issue highlights some of NPI’s research or projects and shares insights into how our dedication to excellence benefits you and your community.
What is an After-Action Review (AAR)?
An After-Action Review (AAR) is a structured, team-based process used to assess how an agency responded to an event—whether a critical incident, routine emergency, or planned exercise. AARs provide law enforcement agencies with the opportunity to evaluate what happened, why it happened, and how future responses can be improved or repeated when successful.
AARs foster a culture of continuous learning. While AARs identify lessons learned, they can, and should, spotlight successes. Highlighting what went right can set a standard of excellence, allowing others to replicate promising practices, establish a roadmap, and share in the success of their peers. AARs are not about assigning blame; they are about identifying promising practices, correcting avoidable errors, and ensuring community safety and officer readiness.
Why It Matters
AARs have long played a crucial role in enhancing performance. Well-executed AARs not only enhance tactical, but also build public trust and promote internal agency wellness. Through AARs, agencies identify promising practices and learn lessons to enhance responses to future similar scenarios, thereby fostering transparency and accountability and signaling their commitment to safety.
“The after-action review of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was an integral part of beginning the healing process… it contributed to enhanced officer wellness practices in other jurisdictions.” — Chief (ret.) Michael Kehoe, Newtown Police Department
Benefits of conducting AARs include:
- Increased employee cohesion and morale
- Safer policies and procedures
- Properly equipped personnel
- Improved organizational capability
- Decrease in loss of public life or property
- Reduced risk of employee injury or death
The Impact
AARs improve crisis response nationwide. The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA both identify that an AAR is the best process to formally evaluate public safety response to major incidents, including both spontaneous incidents and planned events. Findings from AARs include improving command and control coordination, medical response protocols, officer mental health policies, and community communication strategies.
NPI has led or supported over 20 AARs following some of the nation’s most challenging incidents, and is the first national law enforcement organization to create and compile a library of after-action reviews from mass demonstrations, mass violence, and other critical incidents.
Some of the most profound changes in critical incident response have come directly from AARs. They’re a learning opportunity that should not be overlooked. Agencies should institutionalize the AAR process as part of their day-to-day operations, which is why NPI created a step-by-step guide to assist agencies.
The AAR Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
NPI offers a clear, replicable 8-step methodology for conducting After Action Reviews:
- Determine the Type of AAR – Define whether the review is formal or informal, public or internal, and its scale and scope.
- Select a Lead or Team – Choose individuals with subject matter expertise, objectivity, and authority.
- Conduct Incident Research – Gather data including radio logs, policies, media reports, and training records.
- Engage Stakeholders – Interview first responders, dispatchers, medical staff, elected officials, and community members.
- Analyze and Identify Themes – Compare intended outcomes to actual performance using national standards and best practices.
- Develop Findings and Recommendations – Focus on feasible, actionable changes to policy, training, or resource allocation.
- Communicate Findings – Share with internal audiences, partner agencies, and, when appropriate, the public.
- Implement Lessons Learned – Integrate recommendations into training programs, SOPs, and preparedness exercises
Every day, police officers make decisions that have the power to shape lives, families, and communities. The challenges facing police agencies are complex, ranging from public trust to evolving crime trends, and the stakes are high. We need supporters like you to help us get the correct tools into the right hands.
Meet Livvie Muck, NPI Donor Relations Specialist
If you’ve ever connected with NPI’s donor team, chances are you’ve experienced the warmth and enthusiasm of Livvie Muck, our Donor Relations Specialist.
Livvie holds a degree in marketing from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and lives in Chicago with her husband, Andrew, their dog Alfie, and two cats, Franklin and Apawllo. Livvie enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends, and volunteering in any capacity related to animal welfare.
Livvie has always been driven by a desire to make a difference and has a passion for community and service, which started long before she joined NPI. Growing up in a small town, she got to know local police officers personally—especially Deputy Sheriff Scott Brown, who led the D.A.R.E. program, taught taekwondo, and supported kids who needed a little extra encouragement. For Livvie, getting to know Deputy Brown and seeing his dedication to his community, not just through his job, but in everyday life, planted a seed that eventually brought Livvie to NPI.
When asked what she loves most about NPI, Livvie reflects on the organization’s unique approach:
“I love that NPI is non-partisan, bringing together those of us who seek to better the world of policing through proven strategies that come from unbiased data. While there’s a time and place for emotion, by not allowing it to steer our mission, we can focus on what works—and put it in the hands of those who can make a real impact for me and my loved ones. That’s also why I chose to work at NPI and why I’m an annual donor myself.”
With her passion, dedication, and belief in the power of purpose-driven work, Livvie embodies the spirit that drives NPI’s mission forward.