NCJ Number
91569
Date Published
1977
Length
116 pages
Annotation
The procedure for conducting a patrol operations analysis study outlined in this manual is presented for police departments which have not previously undertaken such a task. The method of analysis is based on the measurement of patrol time consumed by calls-for-service, patrol-initiated activity, and personal or administrative activity.
Abstract
The manual reviews pertinent research in resource allocation, focusing on hazard or weighted workload formulas, and shows the shortcomings of using these formulas. It discusses computer-assisted techniques, including computer-assisted work schedules, patrol car allocation, and the hypercube model used in beat design. Preliminary considerations in collecting the time expended by patrol officers on various field activities are described, and data collection concerns are highlighted. The analysis of patrol time consumed during a sample period may be conducted manually or mechanically; however, large departments must use mechanical or electronic processing. Manual processing may be done on one of two levels of analysis: one is based upon the application to raw incident tallies of sampled averaged consumed times obtained for each incident category, while the other produces a more exacting analysis of patrol time consumed. Mechanical processing by larger departments will permit analysis by crime type, service type, time, location or area, patrol beat, patrol unit, total response time, total patrol time consumed, seasonal variations, day-of-the-week variations, and workload. An explanation of manpower analysis looks at manpower available to meet service demands, allocation of patrol manpower to shifts, and geographical distribution of shift manpower. Tables, figures, and sample forms are included.