NCJ Number
105178
Date Published
1987
Length
69 pages
Annotation
This internal audit of the Portland Bureau of Police (Oregon) examined patrol operations in fiscal year 1986-1987 and identified more efficient and effective ways to use patrol personnel.
Abstract
The patrol function, comprising half the bureau's staff and budget, responded to over 296,000 calls for service in 1986. The current shift schedule deploys too few staff during some busy periods and too many during slow periods. This results in slower emergency response times and uneven distribution of call workload among officers. To improve this situation, alternative shift schedules, improved workload and deployment analysis, and more control over officer time-off are recommended. While the telephone unit effectively handles low priority calls and reduces patrol staff call workload, inadequate staffing resulted in the unit's unavailability 27 percent of the time. Fuller staffing of this unit is needed. An analysis of staff needs assessment standards and methods revealed limitations. Improved shift scheduling and telephone reporting procedures could permit more effective deployment of personnel in proactive policing strategies. Further, the bureau should provide the city council with a broader range of workload and performance information, as well as staffing alternatives based on several levels of police services. It also is recommended that methods for determining patrol staffing needs be improved and that a detailed program of proactive policing activities be developed and implemented. Additional findings and recommendations are appended. 27 references.