NCJ Number
53574
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 70-74
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
MANAGING THE DEMAND FOR POLICE SERVICES THROUGH COMMUNICATION, INVESTIGATION, PATROL, AND THE SPLIT FORCE CONCEPT IS THE FOCUS OF THIS ARTICLE.
Abstract
IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE DEMAND FOR POLICE SERVICES, IT IS NECESSARY TO ALLOCATE MANPOWER EFFECTIVELY AND TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY. IT IS ASSUMED THAT EFFICIENCY WILL BE BETTER SERVED BY VARYING THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION RESPONSE. FOUR LEVELS ARE STIPULATED: IMMEDIATE PERSONAL RESPONSE, DELAYED PERSONAL RESPONSE, TELEPHONE ADJUSTMENT, AND SERVICE AT A POLICE FACILITY. FOR THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED, DISPATCHERS HAVE THREE RESPONSE LEVELS AVAILABLE: (1) COMPLAINT CAN BE RESOLVED BY TELEPHONE, (2) COMPLAINANT CAN BE ADVISED TO RESPOND TO THE POLICE FACILITY FOR ASSISTANCE, AND (3) PERSONAL SERVICE CAN BE RENDERED IF THE CALLER DEMANDS IT, IF ANY POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER VIOLENCE EXISTS, OR IF THE DISPATCHER FEELS THAT AN OFFICER MUST BE AT THE SCENE. POLICE DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT MUST REALIZE THAT THE ENTIRE POLICE FORCE CONTRIBUTES TO THE SUCCESS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATIVE EFFICIENCY CAN BE IMPROVED BY ENHANCING THE INVESTIGATIVE ROLE OF PATROL AND SCREENING COMPLAINTS REQUIRING FURTHER FOLLOWUP. SCREENING CAN BE DONE ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF SOLVABILITY FACTORS WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: WITNESS TO A CRIME, SUSPECT NAMED, SUSPECT KNOWN, SUSPECT DESCRIBED, SUSPECT IDENTIFIED, SUSPECT PREVIOUSLY SEEN, VEHICLE IDENTIFIED, TRACEABLE PROPERTY, LIMITED OPPORTUNITY, SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE, AND TIME LAPSE AFTER OCCURRENCE. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION REPORTS ARE DELINEATED AS PREVENTIVE PATROL, DETECTIVE, AND NO FOLLOWUP CASES. PATROL EFFORTS ARE NORMALLY CONFINED TO RESPONDING TO A COMPLAINANT OR TO A CALL FOR SERVICE AND TO TAKING AN INITIAL REPORT. THE ROLE OF PATROL UNITS CAN BE EXPANDED TO IMPROVE MORALE, EFFICIENCY, AND PRODUCTIVITY, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE USE OF SOLVABILITY FACTORS AND CASE SCREENING. THE SPLIT FORCE PATROL CONCEPT IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO PATROL SPECIALIZATION BASED ON SEPARATING THE CALL FOR SERVICE FUNCTION AND THE PREVENTIVE PATROL FUNCTION.