Business Targets Law Enforcement
I’ve long argued for commercial principles in government and so, a big grin continued to expand across my face as I read Sarah Bridges’ Retailer Target Branches Out Into Police Work piece in the Washington Post.
Most large retail operations have in-house ‘inventory conservation enforcement’ programs of one kind or another, a euphemism for making sure shoplifting and employee theft don’t get out of hand. Target, the retailing giant, has just such a department that’s been unusually strong and effective over the years, building on latest technology as well as recruiting top-level law enforcement officials to make it run.
And run it does, to the envy of such police entities as the FBI and police departments nationwide.
Robert J. Ulrich, Chairman and CEO at Target had one of those moments we’ve all had over breakfast, when he read about a repeat offender walking out of a courtroom because the judge wasn’t aware he had a record elsewhere in the state. The State was Minnesota and Target is head…