NCJ Number
156158
Journal
Evaluation Review Volume: 18 Issue: 6 Dated: (December 1994) Pages: 678- 688
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Hot pursuit policy is considered.
Abstract
This article examines the efforts of the Aurora, Colorado Police Department to manage hot pursuits in its community. The effect of two policies on the number of pursuits, accidents, and injuries is examined with time series analysis. The two changes in pursuit policy were: a requirement that reports be submitted regarding each pursuit and a stipulation that pursuits could be conducted only under specified conditions. The unit of analysis was one week. Data was provided on pursuits from November 12, 1991 through January 1, 1994. The data were collected for each pursuit and aggregated to weeks. ARIMA and Tobit analysis is used to examine the impact on officer behavior of changes in the hot pursuit policy. Results of the analysis indicate that each policy change, standing alone, produced significant reductions in the number of pursuits engaged in by officers, thereby reducing the attendant accidents and injuries involved. The combination of these two policies had a particularly strong effect. Confirmation that increased monitoring affects pursuit behavior suggests that law enforcement managers can accomplish some of their goals regarding this issue through improved management. Tables, appendix, references