Public safety command center can facilitate after-action review because they will provide a controlled environment where information can be recorded in relation to the operations of the situation while it is happening. In situations where there might be emergencies and decisions are being made at a fast pace, assignments of duties and resources may change, as well as circumstances.

Reconstructing what happened in such an event without a controlled environment can leave out important facts that were part of the event. When a person has a controlled environment, he or she will have a place where all of the information can be controlled during the event. Depending on the type of event, that may include noting decisions, resource assignments, updates, timelines, and information obtained from various sources. The objective is not to make extra work when it comes to emergencies.

An effectively organized public safety command center will allow one to separate information according to various functions. For instance, people who are in charge of communications, planning, logistics, field operations, and incident management need to document different kinds of information. Providing people who perform certain functions with an appropriate workstation and a possibility to use corresponding systems will facilitate the process of documenting information without interrupting other activities performed within the command center.

Such information is very useful after the incident takes place. Managers can analyze what happened, when the critical decisions were made, how the resources were used, and at which stages there were some challenges in the process of operation.

The usefulness of such a method goes far beyond mere documentation. An incident log provides an agency with information that can be used for training, future planning, improving policies, and preparing for similar emergencies. Instead of relying on people's memories in the post-event situation, agencies can use the information documented during the process of emergency operation.

Thus, for agencies that have to deal with complicated emergencies, organizing the command center with a focus on documentation will be quite beneficial.