NCJ Number
49582
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE POLICE FOUNDATION'S EVALUATION OF THE ROCHESTER, N.Y., POLICE DEPARTMENT'S EXPERIMENT IN COORDINATED TEAM POLICING IS DESCRIBED IN SYMPOSIUM PAPER, TOGETHER WITH LEAA'S RESPONSE TO EVALUATION FINDINGS.
Abstract
COORDINATED TEAM POLICING INVOLVES ASSIGNING DETECTIVES TO WORK WITH PATROL OFFICERS IN A SINGLE UNIT, UNDER THE COMMAND OF A POLICE LIEUTENANT. THE IDEA WAS THAT OFFICERS WHO START CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD WORK WITH THOSE DETECTIVES WHO CONTINUE THEM. AFTER DETERMINING THAT THE ROCHESTER DEPARTMENT'S CLEARANCE STATISTICS INDICATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH WERE VALID, THE POLICE FOUNDATION UNDERTOOK A 1-YEAR STUDY OF THE EXPERIMENT THAT PRODUCED A REPORT ON THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF COORDINATED TEAM POLICING. LEAA MET WITH THE POLICE FOUNDATION EVALUATORS TO SOLICIT THEIR OPINIONS ON DESIGNING A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AND TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. THE NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED EMPHASIZED SPECIAL TRAINING TO HELP PATROL OFFICERS CONDUCT BETTER PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS AND ADDRESSED SYSTEMS PROBLEMS IN MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. THE PROGRAM DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE ROCHESTER DETECTIVE-PATROL UNIT EXPERIMENT, OR ON OTHER RESEARCH FINDINGS INDICATING THAT INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL RESOURCES MIGHT BE REDUCED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTING INVESTIGATIONS. IN DESIGNING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS, LEAA IS URGED TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE AGENCIES THAT ACTUALLY CARRY OUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS. THE DISCUSSION ALSO TOUCHES ON FINDINGS FROM OTHER RESEARCH ON THE MANAGEMENT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, ASPECTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT, AND THE TENDENCY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS NOT TO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR PROGRAMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND ASSESSED. (LKM)