NCJ Number
45726
Date Published
1977
Length
42 pages
Annotation
AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IN THE MODEL CITIES AND WOODLAND-WILLKIE AREAS OF DES MOINES, IOWA, BY USING NEIGHBORHOOD FOOT PATROL UNITS TO INCREASE POLICE-CITIZEN COOPERATION IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
EACH FOOT PATROL UNIT CONSISTS OF 1 SERGEANT AND 4 PATROL OFFICERS WHO, WORKING OUT OF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, INCREASE POLICE COVERAGE OF THESE HIGH-CRIME AREAS BY 53 PERCENT. WHEN NOT ANSWERING CALLS FOR SERVICE, THE OFFICERS ARE ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY, E.G., MEETING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, VISITING BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, OFFERING CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE, PROVIDING SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE CITIZENS, AND ASSISTING VICTIMS. THE INTERIM EVALUATION, ORGANIZED BY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, PRESENTS SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS OF THE FOOT PATROL PROJECT'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN ITS INITIAL MONTHS. DATA SOURCES INCLUDE DAILY WORKSHEETS COMPLETED BY FOOT PATROL OFFICERS, A SPECIAL DATA-COLLECTION EFFORT CARRIED OUT IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 1977, CRIME REPORTS, DISPATCH REPORTS, CAR PATROL OPERATIONAL DATA, AND SURVEYS OF OFFICERS AND CITIZENS. THE PROJECT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THE MAJORITY OF ITS GOALS. THE FOOT PATROL UNITS HAVE PROVED A VALUABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON SUSPECTS AND WITNESSES. JOB SATISFACTION IS SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER FOR FOOT PATROL OFFICERS THAN FOR OTHER UNIFORMED PATROL OFFICERS. THE UNITS HAVE DEMONSTRATED A CAPACITY FOR INCREASING SPECIALIZED SERVICES WITHOUT NEGLECTING CALLS. SUPPORTING DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)