NCJ Number
53569
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 35-37
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE OPTIMUM USE OF POLICE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY IN SMALL DEPARTMENTS, IS DISCUSSED, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF SOUTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT IN DIRECTED DETERRENT PATROL IS REPORTED.
Abstract
THE WIDELY USED POLICE PROCEDURE OF RANDOM PATROLLING IS NOT ALWAYS THE MOST EFFICIENT AND DOES NOT ALWAYS MAKE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE USE OF MANPOWER RESOURCES. POLICE ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, MUST EXPLORE ALL AVENUES TOWARD MAXIMIZING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THEIR EXISTING RESOURCES. THE INNOVATIVE PATROL METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT IS DIRECTED DETERRENT PATROL. THIS FORM OF PATROL HAS AS ITS CORE THE REPLACEMENT OF RANDOM PATROL WITH A PLANNING SYSTEM THAT DIRECTS PATROL UNITS TO TARGET AREAS AT SPECIFIC TIMES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CRIME DATA ASSESSMENT. IN EACH DEPARTMENT, A PLANNING TEAM HAS BEEN FORMED TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATION FROM ALL ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS. THE SOUTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT PATROL PROJECT HAS INTEGRATED CRIME ANALYSIS INTO OPERATIONAL PLANNING TO AFFECT ALL AVAILABLE PATROL RESOURCES. WHILE THE PLANNING TEAM HAS OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROJECT, FUNCTIONS OF OPERATIONAL PLANNING ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF INDIVIDUAL SQUADS. DIRECTED DETERRENT PATROL IS A PROACTIVE SYSTEM THAT HAS IMPROVED MANPOWER ALLOCATION AND DEPLOYMENT. THE ABILITY TO PLAN AND MAKE DECISIONS IS CONDITIONED ON ACCESS TO A VALID, TIMELY, AND CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF DATA. THE TASK OF DATA COLLECTION IN A SMALL DEPARTMENT MUST BE AN ONGOING EFFORT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE PLANNING TEAM WITH ACCURATE AND TIMELY CRIME AND WORKLOAD INFORMATION.