The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is at a crossroads as a new administration prepares to take office in January, and there’s a clear path forward to make the ATF a force for good in American law enforcement.

After more than three decades of service in law enforcement, I know what does and doesn’t work when combating violent crime. It’s high time to refocus ATF on its core mission and enhance public safety by returning to proven strategies to target violent offenders and criminal organizations.

The problems at ATF became painfully evident during the Obama administration’s Operation Fast and Furious, a disastrous program that allowed guns to flow unchecked into the hands of violent cartels. The administration unjustifiably placed the gun industry in a no-win situation by ordering licensed gun dealers in Arizona to sell firearms to individuals whom those dealers suspected of engaging in criminal activity. It was indefensible and unconscionable.

The fallout was deadly. When I spoke out about the failures and cover-ups within the DOJ, I became the target of retaliation. I fought bureaucrats who wanted to sweep their mistakes under the rug. Though it wasn’t easy, I won that fight. This experience convinced me that ATF could be an extremely effective agency, but it is in dire need of an overhaul.

First, any reform at ATF should focus efforts on pursuing violent offenders, particularly those with a history of armed criminal activity. Agency resources must be devoted first to the most dangerous criminals who create a real danger to public safety. It’s time to stop wasting resources on technicalities and minor infractions and, instead, focus on dismantling the gangs and organized crime networks that wreak havoc on our neighborhoods. To that end, ATF needs to forge closer ties with firearms dealers. These businesses are not enemies; they’re indispensable partners.

Dealers are often the first line of defense to help identify suspicious purchases and flag possible trafficking organizations. A partnership approach with the firearms industry is a vital component in keeping guns away from the wrong people, and it’s time for them to take that approach more seriously.

Streamlining the ATF’s administrative processes is another feature of reform. The agency has a history of burying licensees in paper and doling out extraordinarily harsh penalties for inconsequential clerical errors. That must change.

These are not mere reforms but a revitalization of the ATF’s role in protecting the public from violent crime. ATF can and must be a respected partner in law enforcement, earning the trust of the firearms community while remaining steadfast in its duty to keep Americans safe.

A clear avenue exists to transform that into a respected, mission-driven agency — one that protects the rights of law-abiding citizens and operates with integrity. Under the right leadership, ATF can finally live up to its full potential.

Peter J. Forcelli is a retired ATF deputy assistant director and former NYPD homicide detective./InsideSources