A fully resourced statewide agency, such as the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (NHLEAC), with the authority to accredit law enforcement agencies, establish statewide best practices, provide professional development, and ensure meaningful oversight.

Adoption of a universal statewide use of force policy that prioritizes de-escalation, proportionality, and preservation of life. In several states, the Attorney General has established a singular, uniform use-of-force policy that legally applies to every law enforcement agency within their respective state. Examples include New Jersey, Washington State, and Vermont.

Learn more: read NHCJE’s blog on a statewide universal use of force policy.

Consistent statewide implementation and funding of crisis response, co-response models, and behavioral health partnerships to ensure mental health professionals play a central role in crisis response whenever possible. Generally speaking, New Hampshire has a strong foundation in Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT), but the system faces adequacy issues, particularly regarding wait times for in-person mobile units or limited hours. NH’s crisis response network functions primarily through two avenues: Mobile Crisis Response Teams, including limited community-based Co-Responder Programs (i.e., Colorado), where law enforcement and mental health clinicians respond together, and Police Training Programs. Organizations like NAMI NH (National Alliance on Mental Illness) provide 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training courses across the state for police, fire, and EMS. These programs teach officers how to safely recognize a mental health crisis, de-escalate it, and connect individuals with proper treatment, emphasizing the need for supporting first responder behavioral health and wellness.

Learn more about crisis response and behavioral health partnerships in this NHCJE blog article.

Guaranteed victim and family advocates for every family impacted by a police-involved shooting to ensure transparency, communication, and meaningful support throughout the investigative process. Some states provide victim advocates to support individuals and families affected by police-involved shootings; however, New Hampshire is not one of them. This type of victim and family support is typically provided by the state’s attorney general’s office, local prosecutor's office, or local law enforcement agencies.

Modification of the Manchester Police Department's Five-Day Return to Duty Policy following officer-involved shootings. The Manchester Police Department’s Five-Day Return to Duty Policy is inadequate by modern standards. The International Association of Chief of Policy guidelines and contemporary best practice lean heavily towards longer pauses paired with mandatory psychological evaluations and phased transition back to duty. 

The Coalition recommends the Manchester Police Department model their Return to Duty Policy from the NH State Police’s Policy. State police policy requires officers involved in police involved shootings to take 30 days of leave after such an incident and not return to “active duty” until the investigation into the shooting has been completed. 

Continued review and strengthening of police training related to implicit bias, de-escalation, communication, mental health response, and decision-making under stress. In July 2025, New Hampshire’s Legislature passed HB2, which included a ban on the use of state funds for DEI-related activities, including New Hampshire Police Standards and Training’s required implicit bias trainings. Although a federal judge in late 2025 issued a preliminary injunction on HB2’s DEI Ban and NH’s Police Standards and Training is not prohibited from providing implicit bias training(s), Director Scippa reports that such training is no longer required and alternative offerings are provided.