Collaboration:

A Learned Skill that Drives Crime Gun Intelligence Success

“There was an idea, Stark knows this, called The Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people to see if they could become something more. To see if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could" – Nick Fury, The Avengers (2012)

Collaboration is the cornerstone of any successful endeavor, whether it’s saving the world or addressing the scourge of gun-related violence. Just as Nick Fury had to compel collaboration among superheroes, effective leadership is required to bring together stakeholders in any fledgeling crime gun intelligence program.

The Power of Collaboration

At the heart of a strong CGI program is a diverse network of stakeholders—investigators, analysts, forensic technicians, and prosecutors—all working together. However, collaboration doesn’t come naturally. It must be designed and nurtured.

In his recent post, “Task 1 – Managing Stakeholders,” Pete Gagliardi highlights how diverse stakeholders “thinking and acting together” bring varied perspectives that drive innovation and success. His post embodied the concept of the Wisdom of the Crowds, where collective intelligence surpasses individual efforts.

As an acolyte of Pete Gagliardi and working alongside him to transform a statewide CGI program, I can attest that collaboration is not instinctive. Instead, it must be actively cultivated. In fact, it requires deliberate effort and encouragement. More to the point, collaboration must be taught, reinforced, and rewarded to truly take root, even for superheroes.

Early on, our efforts to leverage IBIS ballistic imaging technology to produce timely and actionable investigative leads were initially hindered by those silos represented among investigators, analysts, forensic technicians, and prosecutors, as well as barriers within their individual groups. For example, the eight NIBIN sites in the state operated independently from one another until we established a ballistic community of interest, a formal structure that united these entities and fostered collaborative, synchronized action.

In The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle reveals that trust and shared purpose drive successful teams. While collaboration thrives on positive reinforcement, accountability is equally vital. Sometimes, achieving unity requires balancing encouragement with firm measures to inspire teams to "think and act together." Coyle’s work underscores that while the proverbial carrot is the preferred motivator, sometimes it may take the proverbial stick to persuade the group to challenge their status quo.

Lessons from The Avengers

In the first Avengers movie, Nick Fury had to actively compel collaboration when he assembled his diverse team. The superheroes—Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye —didn’t naturally work together at first because they had different personalities, goals, and styles of solving problems.

Fury didn’t just gather them and hope for the best. He provided a framework, resources, and a common mission—protecting the world. It wasn’t until the team faced a shared threat (the invasion by Loki and the Chitauri) that they truly came together.

CGI programs face a similar dynamic. Investigators focus on solving cases, analysts interpret vast amounts of data, forensic technicians prioritize precision, and prosecutors need airtight evidence. Each role is vital, yet their goals don’t always align. Without intentional effort, collaboration can falter.

In the fight against gun-related violence, CGI has emerged as a powerful tool. From linking crimes, guns, and serial trigger pullers to crimes, and by uncovering gun trafficking networks, it offers a data-driven approach to solving and preventing gun-related crimes.

Yet the strength of this intelligence isn’t found in the tools alone—it’s found in the collaboration of the people who use them: investigators, analysts, forensic technicians, and prosecutors.

The challenge? Collaboration doesn’t come naturally. Like assembling a superhero team, it must be designed, compelled, and nurtured from the outset. Collaboration isn’t instinctive. It requires intentional design and leadership to succeed.

How to Compel Collaboration

Leadership, much like Fury’s role in The Avengers, is key to compelling collaboration. Senior-level advocates must bring stakeholders together and champion a unified vision.

LTC Fred Fife (of the New Jersey State Police) commented on Pete’s latest blog, that in order to assemble groups there must be an influential senior level policy advocate or an advocate to champion the concept. He added that champions must have the clout needed to bring the various stakeholders together in an effective spirit of collaboration and partnership. For The Avengers, Nick Fury was that champion.

Once a leader steps forward, these four steps can drive collaboration:

1. Establish a Common Vision

Fury united The Avengers with a clear mission: save the planet. Similarly, CGI initiatives need a unifying purpose. Whether it’s reducing gun violence in a specific city or dismantling a trafficking network, defining and communicating this shared goal ensures everyone is working toward the same end.

2. Create Structures for Collaboration

Collaboration doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a structure or defined policies that can serve to nudge the stakeholders to come together. These policies or procedures can effectively break down silos and provide a clear framework for how each role fits into the bigger picture. For example, investigators need to understand the value in sharing their field insights with analysts and forensic technicians who in turn provide the actionable leads from data they assess, which ultimately suppled the information and hard evidence that prosecutors need to prosecute their cases.

3. Invest in Technology

Just as Tony Stark provided cutting-edge tools for The Avengers, CGI teams need familiarity and access to advanced technology. Tools like the NIBIN, eTrace, and acoustic gunfire detection systems enable stakeholders to connect the dots across cases and other technologies needed to layer and leverage data are critical for identifying links between cases create a shared operational picture. Technology operates at speeds well beyond human capacity and it never forgets about any piece of data it holds.

4. Encourage Communication and Trust

Trust is the glue of collaboration. Without it, even the best tools and structures fall flat. Regular communication—whether through gunstats, briefings, case debriefs, or informal check-ins—fosters understanding and teamwork. When an investigator knows the analyst’s work is reliable, and the prosecutor trusts the forensic technician’s findings, the entire system works more efficiently and with objectivity.

Turning Teams into Allies

Compelling collaboration isn’t easy, but it’s essential. When the CGI stakeholders work in harmony, they generate insights that save lives and bring criminals to justice.

Even The Avengers didn’t start as a seamless team. It took leadership, shared purpose, and perseverance to unite them. CGI programs require the same commitment. With the right structures, tools, and trust, they can transform from a collection of individuals into a cohesive force ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

Collaboration, when cultivated, becomes our most powerful weapon in the fight against gun violence—just as it was for Earth’s mightiest heroes.

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