NCJ Number
14700
Date Published
1973
Length
161 pages
Annotation
THIS NEW YORK CITY NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM POLICING RPOGRAM, LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 1971, DIVIDED INDIVIDUAL PRECINCTS SO THAT A SERGEANT AND A TEAM OF PATROLMEN WOULD HAVE 24 HOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICE SERVICE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
Abstract
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ARE TO CONTROL CRIME MORE EFFECTIVELY, INCREASE COMMUNITY COOPERATION IN CRIME CONTROL, IMPROVE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS, TAILOR POLICE OPERATIONS TO NEEDS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INCREASE OFFICER JOB SATISFACTION, AND IMPROVE THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATROL OFFICERS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISORS. DUE TO A DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION THAT AN EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM WAS NOT NECESSARY, THE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY INVOLVED SUBJECTIVE JUDGMENTS OF EVALUATORS, LIMITED POLICE AND CITIZEN SURVEYS, AND DATA ON SEVERAL POLICE MEASURES. AN OBJECTIVE-BYOBJECTIVE REPORT OF STUDY FINDINGS REVEALS THAT OPERATION NEIGHBORHOOD HAS LED TO A MODEST IMPROVEMENT IN CRIME REDUCTION AND ARRESTS WITHOUT CREATING ANY BASIC CHANGES IN POLICE JOB SATISFACTION OR PATROL ATTITUDES. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM ENJOYS AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC IMAGE AND POPULAR ACCEPTANCE. PROGRAM DEFECTS INCLUDED INEFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION DUE TO THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE PROGRAM, FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT DISPATCH GUIDELINES, THE SIMULTANEOUS IMPLEMENTATION OF CONFLICTING PROGRAMS, AND PROGRAM CONFUSION AND/OR RESISTANCE ON THE PART OF PRECINCT COMMANDERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS ARE INCLUDED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS COPIES OF THE PROGRAM OPERATIONS INSTRUCTIONS AND THE PATROL MANAGEMENT SURVEY.