
In this section we'll outline the course, learning objectives and let students know what to expect throughout the course. We'll also introduce the course's final product that students will learn how to build step-by-step.
In the previous session, we reviewed a finished product that we'll create together step-by-step. Map visuals may not show up when you first open our final product dashboard. If that's the case, this video outlines the steps you'll need to take to enable map visuals. If you can't troubleshoot this issue on your own, don't worry, we'll re-visit enabling map visualizations later in the course.
Using data sources common to law enforcement agencies, we will demonstrate how analysts can connect directly to relational databases ( CAD & RMS) , MS Access databases, MS Excel and other common data sources.
If you're not able to create maps due to organizational permissions, view this video for 3 work around options.
For GovCloud users, please note that instead of "powerbi.com" you will instead navigate to "https://app.powerbigov.us" .
Let's start modeling in an offer workup dashboard!
This comprehensive course is your ultimate guide to mastering Power BI, tailored specifically for professionals in law enforcement and public safety. Unlike other courses that focus on generic business data, this course is uniquely designed to help you understand and work with data structures commonly found in state and local police departments.
Focusing on key datasets such as CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch) and RMS (Records Management System) data, you’ll learn how to clean, transform, and analyze these complex datasets to generate actionable insights. Whether you're a beginner or looking to advance your skills, this course will equip you with the tools and techniques necessary to create powerful visualizations used in modern crime analysis workflows.
Key topics include:
Crime Maps and Geospatial Analysis: Learn how to create detailed crime maps using Power BI’s integration with GIS tools, providing spatial insights essential for understanding crime patterns and trends.
COMPSTAT Dashboards: Build dynamic visualizations for tracking crime statistics, highlighting year-over-year trends, and supporting COMPSTAT meetings with clear, actionable data.
Problem-Oriented Policing Support: Develop visuals that pinpoint hotspots, identify root causes of recurring issues, and monitor the success of problem-oriented interventions.
Intelligence-Led Policing Tools: Use Power BI to visualize data that supports intelligence-driven strategies, including linking offenders, locations, and offenses for better resource allocation.
Stratified Policing Visualizations: Design reports and dashboards that align with the levels of analysis required in stratified policing frameworks, from tactical to strategic assessments.
What you'll learn:
Data preparation: Transform CAD and RMS data into clean, usable formats.
Crime trend analysis: Visualize patterns in time and geography to identify actionable insights.
Spatial analysis: Integrate geospatial tools to map offenses, calls for service, and officer activity.
Custom visualizations: Create heat maps, bar charts, scatter plots, and other visuals tailored to law enforcement workflows.
Advanced dashboards: Combine visualizations into interactive dashboards for operational, tactical, and strategic crime analysis.
This course is ideal for crime analysts, law enforcement officers, and public safety professionals looking to enhance their data analysis capabilities. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to build robust Power BI dashboards and reports that drive informed decision-making and directly support initiatives like COMPSTAT, problem-oriented policing, intelligence-led policing, and stratified policing.
Don’t miss the opportunity to revolutionize how you analyze and present crime data—enroll today and start building insights that make your community safer.