NCJ Number
133477
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 58 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1991) Pages: 74-76
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the purpose and content of the "Citizen Response Questionnaire" (CRQ) used by the Plainsboro Township Police Department (New Jersey) to assist in the evaluation of its officers.
Abstract
The CRQ is used in association with officer-initiated motor vehicle stops which may result in the citizen's being given a traffic summons and a call for service in which a citizen requests assistance from the police. Persons who have been arrested or have had their driver's license suspended are not sent CRQ's because of the high probability of receiving only negative comments. Citizen respondents are randomly selected for each officer. The CRQ used for the vehicle stops asks eight close-ended questions on officer behavior, appearance, and knowledge. There is a section for comments, and the respondent is asked to sign and date the questionnaire. The CRQ for calls for service asks 10 close-ended questions on response time, officer appearance, officer behavior, and officer knowledge. There is also a section for additional comments. The returned responses are tabulated, and a special report is forwarded to the police chief quarterly. Supervisors of officers who receive unfavorable comments discuss the incident with the officer, and remedial training is undertaken if necessary.