NCJ Number
171101
Journal
Policing Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (1997) Pages: 497-507
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A quasi-experimental research design was used to study the operating costs and benefits of a consolidated police agency in Northern York County (Pa.).
Abstract
The Northern York County Police Department was created in 1972 from agencies serving eight municipalities. The research compared this agency with a comparison group of eight police agencies in Lancaster County, a contiguous county in rural Pennsylvania. Study variables included population, land area and density, income tax level, market value of real estate, other tax rates, the dollar amount of the municipality's general fund, the police expenditures, the police expenditures per capita, the number of police vehicles, the crime index, and the number of incidents handled by the police. Results revealed that the total costs in the consolidated agency were 28 percent less than in the other departments and that the per-capita costs were 25 percent less. The cost per crime incident was 50 percent less; the cost per call was 70 percent less. The police officers in the consolidated agency also earned higher salaries than those in the comparison agencies. The consolidated agency had 34 percent fewer police officers per 1,000 population and 56 percent fewer vehicles. The consolidated agency has also centralized records and streamlined communications. It offers specialized service such as a grant-funded proactive policing unit, a canine unit, a detective unit, and juvenile specialists. Overall, the consolidated agency does the job for less money than the comparison municipalities. Findings indicated that consolidation may provide a viable alternative strategy for smaller municipalities seeking to control rising taxes, but consolidation has some negative aspects and may not be appropriate for every municipality. Tables, appended list of municipalities studied, and 18 references