NCJ Number
34723
Date Published
1974
Length
75 pages
Annotation
THE EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT THE ARBOR HILL NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE UNIT (AHNPU) HAS PROVEN TO BE A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL VEHICLE, DELIVERING SUPERIOR POLICE SERVICE TO A COMMUNITY IN ALBANY, NEW YORK.
Abstract
SEVERAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS WERE USED TO MAKE THIS EVALUATION, INCLUDING CLEARANCE RATES, VOLUME OF POLICE/ CITIZEN TRANSACTIONS (I.E., WORKLOAD), COMPLAINT RESPONSE, AND CRIME RATES. THE REDUCED CRIME RATE IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE VASTLY IMPROVED CLEARANCE RATES OF AHNPU COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE CITY. THE EVALUATION FOUND THAT AHNPU WAS CLEARLY DIFFERENTIATED FROM MOST MUNICIPAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS (WHICH GENERALLY FUNCTION IN A PASSIVE, RESPONSE-ORIENTED MODE) BY THE UNUSUAL DEGREE OF INITIATIVE ENCOURAGED AND EXERCISED BY ALL LEVELS WITHIN AHNPU. THIS INITIATIVE IS TYPIFIED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOUND, LOGICAL ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY BY SUPERVISORS; THE ACTION OF TEAM INVESTIGATORS IN COMMENCING INVESTIGATIONS BASED ON INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION RATHER THAN DEFERRING ACTION UNTIL CRIMES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED; AND EFFORTS TAKEN BY PATROLMEN TO SEEK OUT CONTACTS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS IN INFORMAL, NONENFORCEMENT SETTINGS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SEE NCJ-34718.