NCJ Number
130326
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 22,24-25
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Kirksville Police Department (Missouri) has found that a weighted productivity report that measures an officer's productivity in relation to the departmental average is a valuable part of a comprehensive evaluation of the officer's performance.
Abstract
Based on computer-generated data for officer performance, the department produces a "weighted" productivity graph that uses the shift average as a measuring line. High or low productivity is determined by comparing an individual officer's work output in the time that was available with the shift average. In calculating how to "weigh" an officer's productivity, the department has developed formulas to determine raw scores, average scores, and weighted scores for each separately tracked category. Each officer's performance is compared to the average rather than to other officers, thereby eliminating a numbers competition between officers, since competition for numbers usually means increased quantity and reduced quality. Ideally, each officer should produce at the level of the shift average. The Kirksville Police Department interprets a range of 20 percent above or below shift average as acceptable. A single month's report that shows an officer lower than average is not sufficient for disciplinary action, although it may be useful in discussions with that officer in attempting to find causes of low productivity. A continued low productivity over an adequate time period may result in disciplinary action. 1 table