This method can be called by your Application class onCreate(), or even your first Activity. After that, for debug builds only, you can manipulate StrictMode settings at any time without inconveniencing your QA team.

ChangeStrictMode.java

/**
     * For debug builds, this adds the ability to set up StrictMode on the fly via the command line with a command like
     * adb shell am broadcast -a com.your.pakcage.action_change_strict_mode --ez enabled true --esa penalties log\,flash\,death
     */
    private void setupStrictModeReceiver() {
        if (BuildConfig.DEBUG) {
            final String tag = "StrictModeReceiver";
            IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter();
            intentFilter.addAction("com.your.package.action_change_strict_mode");
            registerReceiver(new BroadcastReceiver() {
                @Override
                public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
                    Log.d(tag, "Got a command to change strict mode");

                    boolean enabled = intent.getBooleanExtra("enabled", false);
                    String[] penalties = intent.getStringArrayExtra("penalties");
                    if(penalties == null || penalties.length == 0){
                        penalties = new String[]{"log"};
                    }

                    Log.d(tag,"Enabling StrictMode with penalties = " + Arrays.toString(penalties));

                    StrictMode.ThreadPolicy threadPolicy;
                    StrictMode.VmPolicy vmPolicy;
                    if (enabled) {
                        final StrictMode.ThreadPolicy.Builder thredPolicyBuilder = new StrictMode.ThreadPolicy.Builder();

                        thredPolicyBuilder
                                .detectAll()
                                .permitDiskReads()
                                .permitDiskWrites();

                        for(int i = 0;i<penalties.length;i++) {
                            switch (penalties[i]) {
                                case "death":
                                    thredPolicyBuilder.penaltyLog();
                                    break;
                                case "dialog":
                                    thredPolicyBuilder.penaltyDialog();
                                    break;
                                case "flash":
                                    thredPolicyBuilder.penaltyFlashScreen();
                                    break;
                                case "deathOnNetwork":
                                    thredPolicyBuilder.penaltyDeathOnNetwork();
                                    break;
                                case "dropbox":
                                    thredPolicyBuilder.penaltyDropBox();
                                case "log":
                                default:
                                        thredPolicyBuilder.penaltyLog();
                            }
                        }

                        threadPolicy = thredPolicyBuilder.build();

                        final StrictMode.VmPolicy.Builder vmPolicyBuilder = new StrictMode.VmPolicy.Builder();

                        vmPolicyBuilder.detectAll();

                        for(int i = 0;i<penalties.length;i++) {
                            switch (penalties[i]) {
                                case "death":
                                    vmPolicyBuilder.penaltyLog();
                                    break;
                                case "dialog":
                                case "flash":
                                case "deathOnNetwork":
                                    // These don't apply to VmPolicy.
                                    break;
                                case "dropbox":
                                    vmPolicyBuilder.penaltyDropBox();
                                case "log":
                                default:
                                    vmPolicyBuilder.penaltyLog();
                            }
                        }

                        vmPolicy = vmPolicyBuilder.build();
                    }else{
                        Log.d(tag,"Disabling StrictMode");
                        vmPolicy = StrictMode.VmPolicy.LAX;
                        threadPolicy = StrictMode.ThreadPolicy.LAX;
                    }

                    StrictMode.setVmPolicy(vmPolicy);
                    StrictMode.setThreadPolicy(threadPolicy);
                }
            }, intentFilter);
        }
    }