NCJ Number
59860
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 32,34-36
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, INTEGRATED CRIMINAL APPREHENSION PROGRAM (ICAP) WHICH UTILIZES THE SECTOR COMMAND SYSTEM AND IS FUNDED BY LEAA.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1976 AND HAS BECOME A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES, WINNING PRAISE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THE SECTOR COMMAND SYSTEMS DIVIDED NORFOLK INTO SIX SECTORS ACCORDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE AND CRIME STATISTICS. EACH SECTOR SHARES EQUAL RESOURCES OF MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT. A SECTOR COMMANDER IS ASSIGNED TO EACH AND HAS COMPLETE AND CONTINUOUS SECTOR CONTROL. OFFICERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING POLICING IN THEIR SECTOR AND THE COMMANDER STAGES WEEKLY RAP SESSIONS WITH HIS PERSONNEL ENCOURAGING SUGGESTIONS AND INFORMATION. ATTITUDES OF POLICE PERSONNEL TOWARD THE PROGRAM ARE POSITIVE, AND THERE HAS BEEN A CITYWIDE DROP IN CRIME SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THE SYSTEM IS DAILY CRIME ANALYSIS DATA FOR EVERY SECTOR, BASED ON EXAMINING PATTERNS WHICH ARE CAREFULLY GRAPHED AND MAPPED OUT. INFORMATION IS ALSO PROVIDED BY PATROL OFFICERS AND COMES FROM TWO OTHER ICAP SOURCES, NAMELY DISTRICT PROFILING AND PREVENTIVE PATROLLING. OFFICERS ARE ASSIGNED TO A SINGLE DISTRICT SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO STUDY EACH DETAIL OF A NEIGHBORHOOD'S CRIME PROBLEM; THEIR STUDY GOES INTO A DISTRICT PROFILE WHICH IS UPDATED SEMI-ANNUALLY AND FILED WITH CRIME ANALYSIS. ADDITIONALLY, A MICROPROCESSOR PROVIDES INFORMATION ON AND ANALYZES WORKLOAD DATA TO HELP THE SECTOR COMMANDER MORE EFFICIENTLY ALLOCATE HIS PERSONNEL. SOPHISTICATED USE OF COMPUTERS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM HAVE ALSO MADE NORFOLK'S TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK SUCCESSFUL. THE ARTICLE IS ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. (MJW)