ICMA CONSULTING SERVICES -2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Patrol Force -Analysis of Data and Patrol Force Planning Background -Police Patrol Police departments utilize their patrol forces in two modes: reactively to respond to calls for service and proactively to address crime problems as well ongoing nuisance issues. (See Figure l .) Detectives provide another element of a primarily reactive force, seeking to solve crimes that have already been committed. Policies & ._._._._. ._., Procedures Process Management --~~ Continuous Improveme Feedback Loop Data Driven r-•-•-~-•-•-•-•-~-•-•- •i Leverage Resources Flexible and Creative ~ Resource ' Math Model ' ~._._._._._._._._._._._._._.~ Allocation Citizen Expectation Citizen Complaints Citizen Satisfaction Response Time Reduc#lon feted Crime Reduction Citizen Fear Community Deterioration Police Patrol: Reactive and Proactive Reactively -citizen initiated calls ^ High priority calls -citizens expect extremely rapid response ^ Moderate Priority calls -Best practice departments manage citizens' expectation by letting them know a realistic response time and then meeting or surpassing their expectation. If there is an unexpected further delay, the citizen is contacted with up- to-date information ^ Low priority calls -Best practice departments find creative strategies such as a telephone crime reporting so as to free up the patrol force for either rapid response to a high priority call or to continue with crime-directed activities ^ On-Scene handling: The manner in which a police officer handles himself or herself on-scene plays a critical role in developing or discouraging citizen support for the police department Rapid response to the highest priority calls can sometimes mean the difference between life and death but is unlikely to broadly influence the crime rate. Meeting or exceeding citizen expectations reduces the number of citizen complaints and increases community support for the police department. Community support is a critical element in developing a proactive crime directed patrol force. With accurate and timely data, a police department can reduce response time by adopting a philosophy of data driven continuous improvement that usually entails first finding the multiple root causes of slow response and then changing operating policies that contribute to the problem. They can also reduce response time by making data driven strategic decisions that better match patrol force levels with police patrol workloads. Proactively -Police initiated in cooperation with citizenry ^ Police departments use detailed crime data to develop both short-term targeted activities and long lasting strategic initiatives