NCJ Number
15619
Date Published
1974
Length
40 pages
Annotation
PROJECT TO DETER CRIME (PARTICULARLY ROBBERY AND BURGLARY) IN PARKS AND SHOPPING DISTRICTS, AND TO IMPROVE MOBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF PATROL UNITS IN THE EVENT OF CRIME FROM NOVEMBER, 1972 TO MARCH, 1974.
Abstract
THIS EVALUATION OF THE MOUNTED PATROL UNIT FOCUSES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT IN PATROLLING PARKS AND SHOPPING AREAS NOT PREVIOUSLY PATROLLED IN THIS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE REDUCTION OF CRIME IN THE PATROLLED AREAS, AND ENCOURAGING MORE PEOPLE TO USE THE PATROLLED PARKS AND SHOPPING AREAS. THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION ARE BASED UPON ANALYSIS OF DEPLOYMENT RECORDS KEPT BY PROJECT PERSONNEL, ANALYSIS OF CRIME STATISTICS FOR THE PATROLLED AREAS, AVAILABLE PARK USAGE DATA, AND THE FINDINGS OF A PUBLIC AWARENESS SURVEY CONDUCTED FOR THE PROJECT. THE EVALUATION FOUND THAT, DURING THE EVENING HOURS, THE MOUNTED PATROLS INCREASED THE POLICE PRESENCE FROM TWO TO TEN TIMES COMPARED TO THE LEVELS OF CAR PATROL OPERATING IN THOSE AREAS. SHORTAGES IN VOLUNTEER MANPOWER FOR THE OVERTIME EVENING PATROLS WERE THE MAIN CAUSE OF DEVIATIONS FROM PLANNED DEPLOYMENT. ALTHOUGH FEWER THAN 40 ARRESTS WERE MADE BY MOUNTED PATROLMEN DURING THE HOURS AND MONTH UNDER STUDY, THEY PROBABLY ASSISTED CAR PATROL OFFICERS IN MANY ADDITIONAL ARRESTS. CRIME STATISTICS FOR FOREST PARK SHOW THAT SERIOUS CRIME WAS CUT ALMOST IN HALF WHEN THE MOUNTED PATROLS WERE IMPLEMENTED. NO SUCH RESULTS WERE APPARENT FOR THE IADDITIONAL PARKS AND SHOPPING AREAS COVERED UNDER THE IMPACT PROJECT. RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC IN THE PATROLLED PARKS AND SHOPPING AREAS INDICATE THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE PATROLS AND FEEL MORE SECURE FROM CRIME BECAUSE OF THEM.