Jerry H. Ratcliffe

“Wicked problems are challenging social problems that are ill-formulated and may involve many decision-makers with conflicting values.3,4 Wicked problems are places or areas where multiple factors in Box 3.2 are relevant. They are difficult to define, often unique, and have little to indicate a solution. As a leading researcher and police executive noted: “Wicked problems seldom have simple causes and usually sit across, and between different organizations or stakeholders to the point where not only is the cause and solution frequently disputed, but each apparent ‘solution’ often generates a further problem.”
― Jerry Ratcliffe, Reducing Crime: A Companion for Police Leaders

“Spend enough time with police officers and you soon identify the ‘expert’ group. These are the cops that ‘know’ how to fix the crime problem. Regardless of the issue, they immediately propose a solution with unfaltering confidence. Their pronouncement sometimes starts with the phrase ​“​in my experience …​”​ This can be followed by a lament that if it were not for politicians, prosecutors or senior officers holding them back, they could magically bring tranquility to the community.”
― Jerry H. Ratcliffe, Evidence-Based Policing: The Basics