NCJ Number
102730
Date Published
1984
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This study develops a mathematical expression for a response time estimator that can be implemented on a police department's computer-aided dispatch system, so as to enable agencies to inform callers about probable response time.
Abstract
The rationale for developing such a model is that citizens' satisfaction with the police response to their calls for help will improve when they are accurately informed about the police response time. The model is based on a queuing system where calls for service of different types arrive at a Poisson rate. Associated with every call type is a call priority and a service time probability distribution. Analytic results encompassed the expected waiting time for a single patrol and a multiple patrol. Based on the results, the study approximated the conditional waiting time for the general system. The performance of the delay estimator was tested in typical simulations. The estimator proved to be a useful method of calculating waiting times for low priority calls in a waiting range greater than 15 minutes. An estimator would be unnecessary for high priority calls and those with a waiting time of less than 15 minutes, since the caller would perceive these as quick responses. Tabular data, figures, and 5 references.