PRODME - PRODUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT FOR PATROL OFFICERS

• NCJ Number: 48181
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 68-73
• Author(s): G K TYLER; C R HASTORF
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION, AND ASSESSMENT OF A PRODUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR PATROL OFFICERS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

ESSENTIALLY, THE PRODUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT FOR PATROL OFFICERS (PRODME) SYSTEM CONSISTS OF THE ASSIGNMENT OF POINTS ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENTAL PRIORITY TO THE SEPARATE ACTIVITIES IN THE PATROL OFFICER'S JOB DESCRIPTION. THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE TASKS IS RECORDED ON A DAILY BASIS FOR EACH OFFICER, AND THE PRODUCTIVITY LOG IS USED TO CONSTRUCT THE OFFICER'S MONTHLY ACHIEVEMENT REPORT, WHICH DISPLAYS EACH OFFICER'S ACTIVITIES AND POINT ACCUMULATION. THE OFFICER REMAINS ANONYMOUS THROUGH THE USE OF ASSIGNED NUMBERS; THE POINT TOTALS FOR ALL OFFICERS ARE DISPLAYED ON A BAR GRAPH AND GIVEN TO EACH OFFICER AT THE END OF THE MONTH. PRODME IS INTENDED TO STRUCTURE THE PATROL OFFICER'S JOB PERFORMANCE ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENTAL GOALS, PROVIDE A TOOL FOR FEEDBACK IN DISCUSSING AN OFFICER'S PERFORMANCE, AND STIMULATE A DEGREE OF MOTIVATION THROUGH PEER COMPETITION. THE PLANNING PHASE FOR PRODME BEGAN IN THE FREMONT, CALIFORNIA POLICE DEPARTMENT IN AUGUST OF 1975. GENERAL MEETINGS EVOLVED INTO A DISCUSSION OF ALL TYPES OF PATROL ACTIVITIES, LEADING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST PRODUCTIVITY INDEX LIST. ITEMS WERE ADDED AND SUBTRACTED FROM THIS FIRST LIST UNTIL A FINAL MANAGEABLE LIST OF ACTIVITIES WAS CONSTRUCTED. IN A MEETING HELD WITH FIRST-LINE SUPERVISORS, POINTS WERE ASSIGNED TO EACH ACTIVITY IN ACCORD WITH THE PRIORITY GIVEN TO IT IN KEEPING WITH DEPARTMENTAL GOALS. THE PROCEDURE FOR GATHERING THE INFORMATION ON EACH OFFICER'S DAILY ACTIVITIES WAS THEN DETERMINED. THE INDEX OF 14 ACTIVITIES ARE DESCRIBED, AS WELL AS THE POINTS ASSIGNED TO EACH ACTIVITY. INITIALLY, ACCEPTANCE OF PRODME WAS NOT STRONG AMONG THE PATROL OFFICERS BUT ACCEPTANCE AND MORALE INCREASED AS THE OFFICERS EXPERIENCED A NEW CHALLENGE IN THEIR WORK. FOR EACH MONTH THAT PRODME WAS MONITORED, PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED OVER THE PREVIOUS MONTH. AREAS OF FURTHER RESEARCH FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF PRODME ARE LISTED. (RCB)