When faced with police reform pressures, union leaders really have two choices: fight them or try and insert the police perspective to make them more reflective of the realities and challenges of modern policing. We argue that working collaboratively with those furthering reform goals is a much more productive stance and contributes to the control of policing’s destiny.

In policing, most cops are focused on traditional criminal acts aimed at either people or property. But traffic safety plays an important role in keeping communities safe. And it has a connection to governmental finances. Rarely do the police (and city or county governments) get sued because a murder occurs. But it is quite common for claims and lawsuits to be filed after a traffic-related fatality. As our society becomes increasingly litigious this will be a more important area on which the police will need to focus.