Creating a learning organization in law enforcement: Maturity levels for police oversight agencies

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize a stage model for maturity levels for police oversight agencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a literature review covering police oversight organizations and stages of growth models.

Findings

As a conceptual paper, the main findings are related to the appropriateness of the stage model, each identified stage, and the characteristics of each stage.

Research limitations/implications

An empirical study of police oversight agencies all over the world would be necessary to verify the proposed stage model.

Practical implications

The managers of police oversight agencies can apply the model in three ways: identify the current status; identify future direction; and evaluate the past progression.

Originality/value

Hitherto, knowledge transfer from police misconduct cases has not been conceptualized as a learning process in police districts and general law enforcement.

Citation

Filstad, C. and Gottschalk, P. (2010), "Creating a learning organization in law enforcement: Maturity levels for police oversight agencies", The Learning Organization, Vol. 17 No. 5, pp. 404-418. https://doi.org/10.1108/09696471011059804