HARRISBURG (PA) - BUREAU OF POLICE - FOOT PATROL UNIT FINAL EVALUATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 18511
• Author(s): J ELDRED; F FLETCHER; A SUTOR
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 47 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-DF-03-0019
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: University of Pennsylvania
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE FOOT PATROL UNIT (FPU) IN HARRISBURG IS DESIGNED FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERRING THE CRIMES OF BURGLARY, ROBBERY AND AUTO THEFT WITH A MINIMAL EMPHASIS ON APPREHENSION.

Abstract

THE UNIT, CONSISTING ENTIRELY OF ROOKIE OFFICERS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TWO EXPERIENCED SUPERVISORS HAS SUCCEEDED IN LOWERING THE ROBBERY AND BURGLARY RATES IN THE TARGET AREA, BUT HAS HAD NO EFFECT ON AUTO THEFT. ANOTHER INTERESTING ASEPCT OF THE FPU IS ITS FOUR-DAY, FORTY-HOUR WORK WEEK WHICH HAS BEEN PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACT THAT ONLY SIX SICK DAYS WERE TAKEN OVER A THREE MONTH PERIOD BY THE FIFTEEN PATROLMEN. THE EVALUATION WAS CARRIED OUT THROUGH A COMPARISON OF CRIME RATES FOR THE TARGET CRIMES AND THROUGH A SURVEY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE RESULTS WERE FAVORABLE AND THE EVALUATORS BELIEVE THE PROJECT SHOULD BE CONTINUED BECAUSE THEY FEEL THE UNIT'S POTENTIAL FOR CRIME REDUCTION HAS NOT YET BEEN REALIZED.