EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF POLICE SERVICE TASKS - ANTECEDENT FOR MANAGEMENT PLANNING

• NCJ Number: 38091
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1976) Pages: 264-273
• Author(s): J C MEYOR
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police; Northwestern University
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER REPORTS ON AN ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOCIAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES AND THE SERVICE NEEDS OF THE 35-MAN NEW YORK STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Abstract

ALL POLICE PATROL ACTIVITY FOR AUGUST 1971 WAS REVIEWED AND CODED. EACH OF THE 22 SERVICE CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED WAS TABULATED BY SHIFT, WHETHER A CAR WAS DISPATCHED, IF ACTION WAS TAKEN, AND THE SOURCE OF THE INITIATING REQUEST FOR SERVICE. ACTIVITY CATEGORIES WERE ALSO RANKED IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY FOR TOTALS AND CALLS REQUIRING ACTION AND ACCORDING TO RELATIVE SERIOUSNESS. AN INDEX OF SERVICE ACTIVITY (ISA) IS THEN CONSTRUCTED TO MEASURE THE ACTUAL NEED FOR PROVIDING SERVICE FOR EACH SERVICE ACTIVITY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF SERVICE CALLS RECEIVED FREQUENTLY BUT USUALLY RESULTING IN NO ACTION TAKEN BY THE POLICE (DOG BARKING, LOST PROPERTY, FAMILY DISPUTES) MAY EITHER NOT BE LOGICAL POLICE DUTIES OR MAY WARRANT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AIMED AT IMPROVING POLICE COMPETENCE IN THOSE AREAS.