DISTRIBUTION OF URBAN POLICE SERVICES

• NCJ Number: 53840
• Journal: Journal of Politics Volume: 40 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 112-133
• Author(s): K R MLADENKA; K Q HILL
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Florida
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESPONSE TIME AND MANPOWER DISTRIBUTION ARE EXAMINED AS MEASURES OF POLICE SERVICE DELIVERY IN HOUSTON, TEX., WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON SERVICE TO MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS.

Abstract

WHILE IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RESPONSE TIME AND MANPOWER DISTRIBUTION AS MEASURES OF POLICE SERVICE DELIVERY DO NOT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE NATURE OF THE POLICE SERVICES PERFORMED IN INTERACTION WITH THE CITIZENRY, THESE MEASURES ARE DEFENDED AS SIGNIFICANT INDICATORS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE ACTIVITY IN A COMMUNITY. IN INVESTIGATING RESPONSE TIME IN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS NECESSARY TO EXAMINE RAW DISPATCH RECORDS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A SAMPLE FOR ANALYSIS. THE SAMPLE INCLUDED NINE 24-HOUR DISPATCH DAYS IN 1973, SPANNING A PERIOD OF 2 MONTHS AND INCLUDING BOTH WEEKDAYS AND WEEDENDS. BY CHOOSING THE FIRST DISPATCH FOR EACH DAY AT RANDOM AND THEN SELECTING EVERY TENTH DISPATCH, 660 CASES WERE OBTAINED FOR ANALYSIS. DATA WERE GATHERED ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF EVERY POLICE PATROL VEHICLE AND PATROL OFFICER IN THE CITY FOR A 22-DAY PERIOD BY DISTRICT, BEAT, AND SHIFT. THE MEAN NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND OFFICERS PER CAPITA FOR EACH DISTRICT AND BEAT WERE EMPLOYED AS THE DEPENDENT VARIABLES. AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA REVEALED THAT THE HOUSTON POLICE DO NOT RESPOND LESS QUICKLY TO CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM BLACK AND OTHER LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. THE POLICE DISPATCH NETWORK ASSIGNS A RESPONSE PRIORITY TO EACH REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE ON THE BASIS OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE REPORTED OFFENSE. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT LOW-INCOME, MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS RECEIVE MORE POLICE MANPOWER, BASED ON THE HIGHER INCIDENCE OF CRIME AND CALLS FOR SERVICE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. AN EXAMINATION OF POLITICAL INFLUENCES UPON POLICE SERVICE DELIVERY FOUND THAT MANPOWER DISTRIBUTIONAL DECISIONS ARE LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF POLICE ADMINISTRATORS WHO FOLLOW OBJECTIVE STANDARDS TO RESOLVE DISTRIBUTIONAL ISSUES. TABULAR DATA OBTAINED IN THE STUDY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)