What does the concept of “peer review” involve in law enforcement?

The concept of "peer review" in law enforcement fundamentally involves colleagues assessing each other's performance. This practice is important for fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within police departments. Peer reviews allow officers to provide constructive feedback based on their observations and experiences, which can lead to increased professional development and enhanced operational effectiveness.

Through this process, officers are able to identify strengths and weaknesses in each other's performance, share best practices, and promote adherence to departmental policies and ethical standards. This collaborative approach not only improves individual performance but also builds trust and cooperation among team members, ultimately leading to better public service.

While the other options involve evaluations, they do not encapsulate the collaborative and comparative nature of peer review. For example, self-assessments or evaluations by supervisors lack the objective perspective and mutual accountability that peer reviews provide, whereas external feedback can be insightful but does not engage officers in the same immediate, relevant context that peer interactions do.