NCJ Number
212678
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 53 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2005 Pages: 80-85
Date Published
December 2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the principles of a patrol staffing analysis.
Abstract
Both large and small police organizations benefit from examining patrol staffing needs, particularly in this era of tight budgets. A well planned analysis of patrol staffing needs will help police agencies meet both budgeting and community service goals. The concepts of officer workload and call load are described as a key feature of any police staffing analysis. The terms are defined and the author offers strategies for calculating an agency’s officer workload and call load. Generally, workloads are calculated using the average amount of time and the number of officers needs for calls of various priority levels. Calculations on the call load involve the number of calls for each priority level, broken down by the time of day and the day of week. The author next explains how to use this data to gain meaningful information about staffing needs. All that is needed is mainstream PC software such as Excel. The results can be used to justify staffing costs and budgets and to improve employee morale through the even distribution of the workload.