NCJ Number
55574
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE IMPACT OF EAST KINGSTON, N.H., POLICE DEPARTMENT'S EXPANDED POLICE PATROL COVERAGE IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE INCREASED POLICE SERVICES WAS PRIMARILY TO COMBAT THE CRIMES OF BREAKING AND ENTERING AND VANDALISM WHICH WERE OCCURRING IN THE DAYTIME HOURS. THIS EVALUATION WAS OF THE PROJECT'S SECOND YEAR OF OPERATIONS, 1977. THE FIRST YEAR SAW THE INCIDENCE OF REPORTED VANDALISM DECREASE FROM 75 INCIDENTS TO 14. THE INCIDENCE OF REPORTED BREAKING AND ENTERINGS, HOWEVER, ROSE 5 TO 11. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SECOND YEAR OF OPERATIONS WAS TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF THESE CRIMES. INCREASED COVERAGE WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY EXPANDING HOURS WORKED, WAGES, AND BENEFITS. THE RESULT WAS 45 ADDITIONAL HOURS OF PATROL TIME DURING THE DAY PROVIDED BY THE POLICE CHIEF AND HIS TWO OFFICERS. IT WAS FOUND THAT DURING THIS SECOND YEAR OF OPERATIONS THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES OF BREAKING AND ENTERING REMAINED VIRTUALLY CONSTANT. THERE WERE 13 REPORTED BREAKING AND ENTERINGS DURING THE SECOND YEAR. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF REPORTED VANDALISMS INCREASED FROM 14 DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF EXPANDED COVERAGE TO 25 THE SECOND YEAR. NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS INCREASE IS PROVIDED, BUT IT IS NOTED THAT THIS FIGURE IS STILL WELL BELOW THE 75 REPORTED IN THE YEAR BEFORE THE PROGRAM WAS INSTITUTED. THE EVALUATION CONCLUDES THAT THE INCREASED PATROL, AS OPERATIONALIZED BY THE EAST KINGSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS NOT THE MOST EFFICIENT OR EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF AVAILABLE POLICE RESOURCES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROGRAM BE DISCONTINUED. FUNDING FIGURES ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)