This document reports on efforts to better understand and address the illicit fentanyl distribution networks that exist in Long Beach, California, and to disrupt those networks through the use of problem-oriented policing; it provides a detailed description of the project’s collaborative efforts, methodology, and findings and outcomes.
This final research report of California State University, Long Beach’s (CSULB’s) evaluation of an intelligence-led, problem-oriented policing (POP) project, aimed at better understanding and addressing illicit fentanyl distribution networks in Long Beach, California. The study had two main goals: to employ problem-oriented policing to drive efforts to identify and disrupt fentanyl distribution networks in Long Beach; and to use intelligence analysis to identify high-level distributors for investigation. To that end, the researchers worked with a newly hired intelligence analyst and detectives from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) Drug Investigation Section (DIS) to improve their fentanyl distribution network investigations. The report discusses research methodology and data sources, the project effectiveness assessment and outcome evaluations; and it identifies circumstantial evidence on the positive effects of the project on two important outcomes: the increased DIS activity and efficiency, and effective fentanyl distribution network disruption. The authors also discuss three events that occurred during the project: Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions, the movement to defund the police This final research report of California State University, Long Beach’s (CSULB’s) evaluation of an intelligence-led, problem-oriented policing (POP) project, aimed at better understanding and addressing illicit fentanyl distribution networks in Long Beach, California. The study had two main goals: to employ problem-oriented policing to drive efforts to identify and disrupt fentanyl distribution networks in Long Beach; and to use intelligence analysis to identify high-level distributors for investigation. To that end, the researchers worked with a newly hired intelligence analyst and detectives from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) Drug Investigation Section (DIS) to improve their fentanyl distribution network investigations. The report discusses research methodology and data sources, the project effectiveness assessment and outcome evaluations; and it identifies circumstantial evidence on the positive effects of the project on two important outcomes: the increased DIS activity and efficiency, and effective fentanyl distribution network disruption. The authors also discuss three events that occurred during the project: Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions, the movement to defund the police following George Floyd’s death, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s policy that limited prosecution of drug offenses. The report provides a detailed discussion of the process evaluation and the outcome evaluations, as well as their respective limitations; it also provides a list of data sets generated from the research.following George Floyd’s death, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s policy that limited prosecution of drug offenses. The report provides a detailed discussion of the process evaluation and the outcome evaluations, as well as their respective limitations; it also provides a list of data sets generated from the research.