National Policing Institute

What National Policing Institute does

The National Policing Institute (NPI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and training organization founded in 1970 as the Police Foundation through a Ford Foundation grant and rebranded under its current name in 2022. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia with 11-50 employees, NPI conducts independent, non-partisan research and provides evidence-based training, technical assistance, and consulting services to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies across the United States. Its work is organized around three strategic priorities: officer safety and wellness, community trust and policing legitimacy, and violence and use of force. NPI pioneered landmark studies such as the Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment and has maintained a 55+ year reputation as a trusted intermediary between academia, federal funders, and law enforcement practitioners.

NPI's service portfolio spans national programs, consulting engagements, and research partnerships. Flagship national programs include the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program (NLERSP), the National Resource and Technical Assistance Center for Improving Law Enforcement Investigations (NRTAC) supporting 54 BJA Crime Gun Intelligence Center sites, and a national model curriculum and approval process for de-escalation training under the 2022 Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act. Fee-for-service consulting covers staffing studies, organizational assessments, efficiency analyses, workforce wellness evaluations, and data quality assessments for agencies such as Brighton PD, Ferguson PD, Louisville Metro PD, and Madison PD. The Research Partnership Opportunities Program recruits agencies for collaborative studies, including the AI-Driven Police Professionalism Project, the Police Leadership Communications Project, and e-TRAIN mobile de-escalation training.

NPI's revenue model blends federal grant funding (BJA, NIJ, COPS Office), corporate sponsorships (Arnold Ventures, Axon, Capital One, Microsoft), fee-for-service consulting contracts, and individual donations. Grant-funded training programs are typically delivered at no cost to participating agencies, while consulting services are priced per engagement scope. Emerging AI and analytics capabilities — including multimodal BWC analysis through the Polis Solutions/TrustStat partnership and the NPI-Zencity Public Safety Confidence Index surveying 20,000+ Americans annually — represent a deliberate expansion from traditional research into data-driven training and evaluation services.

Name

National Policing Institute

Legal name

National Policing Institute

Website

https://policinginstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Policing Institute is a 55-year-old U.S. nonprofit that conducts research, delivers training, and provides consulting services to law enforcement agencies, funded primarily by federal grants, corporate sponsorships, and consulting fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety Research and Training

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Public Safety & Emergency Management (Police, Fire, EMS Oversight) (BPAIABAG)

Keywords

• Evidence-based policing
• Law enforcement research
• Police consulting services
• Public safety training
• Criminal justice policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants & Federal Funding: NPI receives substantial funding from federal agencies including the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) to conduct research, training, and technical assistance programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships: NPI receives sponsorship support from private sector partners including Arnold Ventures, Axon, Capital One, Microsoft, and others who fund specific research initiatives and programs.
3. Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements with law enforcement agencies for staffing studies, organizational assessments, efficiency analyses, workforce wellness evaluations, and data quality assessments.
4. Donations & Charitable Contributions: Individual and organizational donations supporting NPI's mission to improve policing through science and innovation. Website prominently features donate functionality.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NPI is a nonprofit research and training organization that partners with law enforcement agencies to deliver evidence-based research, national training and technical assistance programs, and customized consulting services. Its flagship offerings include the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program (NLERSP), national de-escalation training standards, the NPI-Zencity Public Safety Confidence Index, AI-driven body-worn camera analytics research, and bespoke consulting engagements covering staffing studies, efficiency analyses, organizational assessments, workforce wellness, and data quality.

Product overview

The National Policing Institute (NPI) is a research and training organization dedicated to improving policing through evidence-based solutions. Rather than a single unified software product, NPI operates as a platform of interconnected services including: (1) research and evaluation services, (2) training and technical assistance programs (including NLERSP and de-escalation training), (3) consulting services for law enforcement agencies, (4) the Research Partnership Opportunities Program, and (5) publications and knowledge resources. Key programs include the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program (NLERSP), the Crisis Intervention and De-escalation training initiative, the NPI-Zencity Public Safety Confidence Index, and emerging AI-powered body-worn camera analytics through Polis Solutions partnership. NPI also offers specialized consulting services including staffing studies, organizational assessments, and workforce wellness analysis, along with an Executive Fellows program connecting practitioners to NPI's work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program (NLERSP) Evidence-based training and technical assistance program for executives, patrol officers, and trainers that provides courses, policy review, training assessment, and research support to prevent officer injuries and fatalities on the nation's roadways; delivered at no cost to participating agencies via Bureau of Justice Assistance funding.
• Crisis Intervention and Effective De-escalation Training Program National standards and model curriculum for de-escalation training and crisis response, developed in partnership with PERF, to enhance law enforcement interactions with individuals experiencing crisis; addresses the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act of 2022.
• AI-Driven Police Professionalism Project Research initiative that leverages artificial intelligence analysis of body-worn camera audio to track professionalism in real-time and evaluates restorative-break interventions to reduce stress-related performance dips among law enforcement officers.
• Enhancing Police De-escalation Training Through Mobile Scenario-Based Learning (e-TRAIN) Mobile, neuroscience-informed de-escalation training program that uses agency body-worn camera footage to sharpen officers' decision-making, evaluated through a multi-site randomized controlled trial.
• Police Leadership Communications Project Research partnership testing a supervisory communication strategy to boost frontline officer morale, organizational justice, and performance through structured monthly de-briefs.
• NPI-Zencity Public Safety Confidence Index First-of-its-kind nationwide survey-based measure of public perception and confidence in law enforcement across the United States, based on over 20,000 responses annually, providing data-driven insights into community sentiment across demographic and geographic groups.
• Law Enforcement Officer Near Miss Reporting System (LEO Near Miss) Online data collection and reporting repository of near-miss incidents involving law enforcement officers, used to improve officer safety through analysis of incident trends.
• Center for Mass Violence Response Studies Research center that prepares public safety, government, schools, businesses, and community leaders to think critically about and respond comprehensively to mass violence events.
• National Resource and Technical Assistance Center for Improving Law Enforcement Investigations (NRTAC) Technical assistance center that improves quality and equity of investigative outcomes, providing support for Crime Gun Intelligence Centers across 54 BJA grantee jurisdictions.
• Averted School Violence (ASV) Data Collection Platform Data collection platform tracking averted school violence incidents to identify prevention strategies and patterns.
• NPI Consulting Services Suite of fee-for-service consulting engagements for law enforcement agencies covering Staffing Studies, Efficiency Analysis, Organizational Assessment, Workforce Wellness Analysis, Data Quality Assessment, and BWC Rapid Performance Assessment, with each engagement structured to agency scope.
• NPI Staffing Study Consulting Data-backed staffing projections for patrol, investigative, and support units using actual workload and call volume data, delivered through NPI Consulting Services.
• NPI Efficiency Analysis and Improvement Consulting Comprehensive risk assessments and workflow optimization using Lean principles to eliminate inefficiencies and improve service delivery for law enforcement agencies.
• NPI Organizational Assessment Consulting Evaluation of internal operations to refine organizational structure and enhance accountability, morale, and community policing outcomes.
• NPI Workforce Wellness Analysis Consulting Identification of internal stressors experienced by staff, benchmarked against best practices, with development of actionable wellness programs for law enforcement agencies.
• NPI Data Quality Assessment Consulting Evaluation of agency data systems for completeness, consistency, and accuracy to ensure quality control for strategic operations in law enforcement agencies.
• Research Partnership Opportunities Program Collaborative research program through which law enforcement agencies apply to partner with NPI on studies advancing evidence-based policing across Officer Wellness, Organizational Culture, Supervision, Technology & AI, and Training & Education.
• Standards-Based Approval Process for Law Enforcement De-escalation Training National review and approval process for law enforcement de-escalation training programs implementing the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act of 2022.

Quantifiable outcome

• 773 law enforcement officers killed from 2009-2023 in collisions and struck-by incidents - NLERS program aims to reduce this toll
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Zencity (Public Safety Confidence Index)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025Launched inaugural NPI-Zencity Public Safety Confidence Index, surveying 20,000+ Americans annually to track public perception and confidence in law enforcement across demographic and geographic groups.
• ZencitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPI and Zencity launched the NPI-Zencity Public Safety Confidence Index, a first-of-its-kind nationwide measure of public perception and confidence in law enforcement. Based on feedback from more than 20,000 respondents annually, the Index provides data-driven insights into community sentiment.
• Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPI partners with PERF to develop national standards for de-escalation training and a national model curriculum for police. The collaboration aims to support safe and effective law enforcement interactions through evidence-informed practices.
• Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPI partners with IIR on the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program (NLERSP) and other technical assistance initiatives. IIR supports program delivery and implementation.
• AxonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAxon partners with NPI on public safety technology research and evidence-based policing initiatives.
• MicrosoftmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrosoft provides technology partnership support for NPI's research and data analysis initiatives.
• George Mason University's Center for Evidence-Based Crime PolicymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration on evidence-based crime policy and policing practices.
• University of Virginia's Center for Public Safety and JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration on public safety and justice system improvements.
• Polis SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationNPI partners with Polis Solutions to offer body-worn camera video analysis technology and services. Partnership combines NPI's scientific expertise with Polis's TrustStat technology for optimizing agency performance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vera Institute of Justice: Independent nonprofit that combines research, technical assistance, and direct program design across criminal justice and policing. Directly comparable to NPI as an evidence-based research-and-implementation partner for government agencies and a thought leader on police reform.
• Police Executive Research Forum (PERF): Independent police research organization that conducts applied research, develops policy guidance, and provides executive-level training for law enforcement leaders. Directly comparable to NPI on mission, audience (police chiefs and executives), and product types (research + training + standards), and is already a formal NPI partner on de-escalation training.
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP): The largest membership association of law enforcement leaders worldwide. Comparable to NPI in serving police executives, producing research and model policies, and providing training; differs as a membership-driven association rather than an independent research nonprofit.
• Council on Criminal Justice: Nonpartisan criminal justice policy and research organization that produces data-driven analysis on crime, policing, and justice reform. Comparable to NPI in its evidence-based research orientation, federal/state policy influence, and focus on translating research into practice for criminal justice stakeholders.
• Center for Policing Equity: Research and policy organization focused on using data science to advance equitable policing. Directly comparable to NPI's evidence-based policing, use-of-force data analysis, and partnerships with academic institutions working on racial equity in law enforcement.

Broad incumbents

• Urban Institute: Major social and economic policy research organization with a Justice Policy Center that conducts research on policing, courts, and corrections. Comparable to NPI in evidence-based criminal justice research, but broader in scope and not policing-specialized.
• RAND Corporation: Large, established policy research organization with a public safety and justice portfolio that includes policing research and program evaluations. Comparable to NPI as a federally funded research partner, but operates across many domains and does not specialize in policing.
• CNA (Center for Naval Analyses): Federally funded research and analysis organization with a public safety division that conducts research on policing and criminal justice. Comparable to NPI as a research-and-evaluation partner for government, but broader in scope across defense and security topics.
• National Institute of Justice (NIJ): Federal research, evaluation, and development arm of the U.S. Department of Justice that funds and conducts criminal justice research. Comparable as a funder and research counterpart to NPI, but operates as a federal agency rather than an independent nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Polis Solutions: Provider of body-worn camera video analytics (TrustStat) and police training technology. Directly comparable to NPI's emerging BWC analytics and de-escalation training offerings, and is already a formal NPI partner, but differs as a technology vendor rather than a research nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/policinginstitute
• Xx.com/PolicingInst
• Facebookfacebook.com/policinginstitute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Policing Institute