NCJ Number
78876
Date Published
1976
Length
52 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from an assessment of crime analysis activities within the Portland Police Department (Maine) as related to the Patrol Emphasis Program (PEP).
Abstract
The PEP program uses information developed through crime analysis to make resource allocation and other decisions for direct patrol activities. Observation of the crime analysis operation and interviews with product users revealed that the PEP plan for patrol applications has not been developed to a point where an appropriate needs assessment can be made for crime analysis data. A review of the grant revealed no crime prevention techniques or concepts taught at the command, supervisor, or officer level as part of the PEP training. Command and supervisory officers do not have an educated expectation of the content of the crime analysis product, since they do not routinely make patrol manpower resource allocation or strategy decisions from data. Current manpower available is less than the authorized strength, causing walking patrols and the crime-specific units to be used as routine motorized patrol units. The availability of computer support for generation of data needed for crime analysis or manpower resource allocation was questionable at the time of the consultant's visit. It is recommended that action should be taken to stabilize the patrol plan as soon as possible, so that the crime analysis support can be generated. Recommendations are also offered in the areas of training, recordkeeping, manpower resource allocation, computer support, and office furnishings and equipment. Appended are a proposal used to purchase an alarm system at a PEP site in Pueblo, Colo., and an Evaluation Request for Proposal written by the same PEP site.