What should be included in an after-action review for a force incident?

• A. Debriefing, policy adherence, lessons learned, recommended changes, and documentation.
• B. Only the incident date.
• C. Only the officer's personal notes.
• D. Media statements.

Answer: (A)

An after-action review is a structured way to learn from a force incident by capturing what happened, evaluating how actions lined up with policies, and turning findings into improvements. Debriefing brings together those involved to reconstruct events, decisions, timing, and communications so everyone aligns on what occurred. Policy adherence is checked to see what procedures were followed and where deviations happened, which helps with accountability and preventing repeat issues. Lessons learned pull together these insights into clear takeaways about strengths and gaps, guiding future practice. Recommended changes translate those lessons into concrete steps—updated policies, new training, revised tactics, or improved equipment—that can raise performance next time. Documentation records all findings, decisions, and action items, ensuring there’s a traceable, accessible reference for accountability and ongoing learning. Media statements aren’t part of this internal review, and focusing only on a date or on personal notes doesn’t provide the comprehensive, collaborative, and verifiable process needed to improve outcomes.