NCJ Number
190838
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 49 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2001 Pages: 143-146
Date Published
July 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes management changes within one county police department.
Abstract
Since it was formed in 1957, the Gaston County, NC, Police Department has operated with a squad commander system, with a rotation form of scheduling. However, communication among department personnel was not as good as it could have been. Because of this and other problems, the department decided to implement a system based on geographic areas of command. Six districts were made into three zones, and department managers assumed greater accountability. The department developed a new records system capable of GIS mapping and CAD records were plotted together with the record system data. Captains paid attention to what was happening within their zone, and management together focused on what was happening throughout the county. The project was called Focusing on the Community Using Statistics (FOCUS). Since implementation of changes resulting from FOCUS, citizens have clearly defined points of contact, community watches are showing signs of revitalization, and information regarding crime is more available than ever, including on a department Web site. The quality of investigations has also improved. The article concludes that, while the new system was not without its problems, it had helped maintain focus on improving the quality of service.