Why Sustainability is Important in a CGIC
A CGIC brings together ballistic evidence, intelligence analysis, and strong partnerships to identify violent offenders, connect related shootings, and move investigations forward faster. The goal is simple: get the right information to investigators as quickly as possible to mitigate future acts of violence.
Establishing a CGIC is a major accomplishment but sustaining it and maintaining its efficiency over time is an equally meaningful endeavor. Establishing a CGIC takes time, training, equipment, and trust between various stakeholders. Neglecting those relationships or allowing processes to break down means losing capabilities that took years to develop. Focusing on CGIC sustainability protects the investment already made in establishing and operating the program.
Gun violence does not stop because a grant ends, a supervisor retires, or a detective transfers to another unit. This is why a CGIC should not be a short-term project that depends entirely on a few motivated individuals or temporary funding; rather, it should become ingrained in the gun violence investigation process.
Successful and sustainable CGICs are built on strong foundations with measurable results and outcomes that ensure they continue to function regardless of who fills a particular position.
This toolkit complements the CGIC Best Practices Guide, which outlines best practices for each step of the CGIC model and showcases agencies that have successfully implemented them.
Key Elements of Sustainability
Building a CGIC is about putting the pieces in place: technology, equipment, policies, training, and partnerships. Sustainability is making sure those elements continue to work together long after the initial excitement of implementation wears off.
One of the most important elements of sustainability is that leadership must set the tone. Executives, commanders, and supervisors need to consistently support the CGIC, and reinforce that crime gun intelligence is part of how the agency investigates violent crime and is not optional. To reinforce this, agencies should have written policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) that clearly define how the CGIC operates.
A sustainable CGIC also develops people instead of relying on a handful of subject matter experts to ensure that everyone understands the process and can fill gaps when needed.
Partnerships require just as much attention. A CGIC is most effective when investigators, prosecutors, forensic laboratories, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), neighboring agencies, and crime analysts communicate and share information quickly. Those relationships cannot be built only when a major case happens.
Finally, agencies should not assume the CGIC can run on autopilot. Violent crime changes, offenders adapt, and technology continues to evolve. It is important to review the program regularly, identifying gaps, and adjusting when necessary are essential.