NCJ Number
73488
Date Published
1980
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This report focuses on the costs and benefits associated with the St. Louis County Police Department's Personal Car Program.
Abstract
This program, which was established in August 1977, allows the assignment of marked police vehicles to commissioned employees who are assigned to the Division of Field Operations. The vehicles can be used both on- and off-duty. Program objectives included increased visibility of marked department vehicles as a crime prevention measure; improved response time to crimes in progress; prompter availability of equipment for the mobilization of police officers in the event of an emergency; the elimination of on-duty time for obtaining routine gas and oil service, minor repairs, and vehicle maintenance; an increase in the life expectancy of department vehicles; and greater flexibility in the assignment of personnel for special events and programs. A cost-benefit evaluation demonstrated that because more vehicles were required for the program, total program cost was greater than the cost of the traditional pooling system. Program benefits included the following: lower per mile and per unit operating cost, longer life of vehicles, larger number of marked patrol cars available for service, 43.9 percent increased visibility, increased public contact, less interbeat dispatching, increased patrol time, reduced response time to crimes in progress, decreased on-duty vehicle service and maintenance, more timely mobilization of police officers, increased flexibility in assigning personnel for special programs and events, and improved employee morale. Data tables and an appendix containing the results of a personnel survey are included.