Organizations routinely face workplace security events that demand a clear and thoughtful response. In some cases — such as an armed robbery, arson, or an assault on an employee — there is no question that public police authorities must be called to intervene or investigate. But many incidents fall into a more ambiguous category, where leaders must decide whether to involve law enforcement or manage the matter internally. It is precisely in these discretionary moments that organizations benefit from a structured approach to decision making.
Security experts who presented at a recent international conference emphasized that the choice to call public authorities is not one to make reflexively. The single most important thing to remember, they said, is that the decision is irreversible. As one expert put it, “You can bring public police in at any time, but once they’re in, they’re in. You can’t take it back.” Calling law enforcement shifts control of the incident, places the investigation on their timeline, and may introduce operational or reputational consequences that organizations must be prepared to manage.
At the same time, there can be legitimate advantages to involving public authorities, including access to additional resources, broader jurisdiction, or compliance with legal or policy requirements. Conversely, organizations may prefer to rely on internal capabilities — especially when their security services partners possess specialized investigative skills or when they wish to avoid unnecessary publicity or disruption.
It may be that calling the police is the right decision, but you must remember that it's like skydiving. After you jump, you can’t go back to the plane.
Because the decision carries meaningful implications, conference presenters urged organizations to adopt a consistent, well considered framework. The accompanying checklist distills those practitioner insights into a practical tool that helps leaders weigh objectives, capabilities, and risks before picking up the phone.
Get the checklist/fillable form: Involving Public Authorities in Workplace Incidents