NCJ Number
158690
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (1995) Pages: 83-100
Date Published
1995
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study describes and evaluates a street-level drug law enforcement project, the Tactical Narcotics Team, created by the Metro-Dade police in Florida to incorporate the most recent knowledge and technology.
Abstract
Although reported crime was a concern to those involved in the project's development and assessment, the use of force by the police officers and the public's perception were the crucial measures of the program's success or failure. The five-phase project was initiated in October 1990 and focused on reducing drug sales on the streets and in crack houses. Evaluation results revealed that the program was more effective than other programs with respect to public attitudes and the lack of force needed to accomplish the police mission. Reasons for the efficiency, effectiveness, and overall success of the program include the serious and competitive selection process for staffing the program, the departure of the program's organizational structure from the traditional agency organization, the training officers received regarding attitudes and skills needed to accomplish tasks without using excessive force, and the deployment of more than sufficient numbers of police officers for each operation. Table and 21 references