So the sample story was about how the police achieved their metrics through unsavory methods because it was too hard/too much work to do it the "correct" way?

Is the problem then how you go about achieving the metrics? Let's say that you always pair metrics with an approval process for how you plan to achieve those metrics. Presumably when the police chief gives a presentation on how he plans to reduce crime rate by throwing out crime reports, the committee would be none too pleased.

Does that theoretically handle the majority of cases where enacting metrics has adverse effects, or does it fall on the other side of 80/20? Or maybe actors are always so inclined to lie and cheat that there's no point in even exploring such an approach.