INDIANAPOLIS POLICE FLEET PLAN - AN EXAMPLE OF PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• NCJ Number: 15378
• Author(s): D M FISK
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 59 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Housing and Urban Development
• Corporate Author: The Urban Institute
• Sale Source: The Urban Institute
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A BENEFITS AND COSTS OF A PROGRAM TO ALLOW INDIANAPOLIS POLICE PATROLMEN TO DRIVE THEIR MARKED PATROL CARS BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY.

Abstract

QUANTIFIABLE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, AN INCREASE IN THE POLICE CLEARANCE RATE, AND THE PREVENTION OF AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS, PERSONAL INJURIES, AND DEATH RESULTING FROM SUCH ACCIDENTS. RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION SUGGEST THAT SOME OUTDOOR CRIME HAS DECREASED SINCE THE PLAN'S ADOPTION. CLEARANCE RATES WERE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY THE PLAN. THERE WAS A 14 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE ACCIDENT RATE, BUT THE DOWNWARD TREND WAS NOTICED PRIOR TO THE PLAN'S IMPLEMENTATION. THE EVALUATION POINTS OUT THAT MORE CRIMES MAY HAVE BEEN REPORTED BECAUSE MORE POLICEMEN HAD RADIO CONTACT WITH THRE PRECINCT STATION FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. A SIDE ADVANTAGE WAS THE SAVINGS IN TRAVEL TIME FROM THE BEAT TO THE PRECINCT STATION. PROJECTED ANNUALLY, THERE WAS AN EFFECTIVE PATROL MANPOWER INCREASE OF 28 MEN TO THE INDIANAPOLIS PATROL FORCE OF APPROXIMATELY 400 MEN.