RESEARCH PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE INDIVIDUAL AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE UPGRADING OF A SINGLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES...

• NCJ Number: 50510
• Author(s): J M EDGAR
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Lincoln Police Dept
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS IS THE EVALUATION RESEARCH PROPOSAL ACCOMPANYING A 2-YEAR PROJECT TO TEST TOTAL REORGANIZATION OF THE CRIME PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION APPROACHES OF THE LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Abstract

THE PROJECT, SCHEDULED TO RUN FROM SEPTEMBER 1978 TO SEPTEMBER 1980, COMBINES INNOVATIVE OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES AND A NEW OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE TO ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE CRIME PREVENTION AND APPREHENSION ASPECTS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATION. THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEM USED OFFICERS IN PATROL CARS RESPONDING TO CALLS, DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING ALL CRIMES, AND A SEPARATE UNIT FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS. EACH ASPECT WAS SEPARATELY COORDINATED FROM CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS. THE TEST SYSTEM WILL COMBINE PATROL, INVESTIGATION, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. OFFICERS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO COMMUNITIES ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEIR JOB WILL BE TO GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITIES THOROUGHLY, TO CONDUCT CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS, TO DEVELOP COMMUNICATIONS LINKS INTO THE COMMUNITIES, AND TO HANDLE INVESTIGATIONS OF ROUTINE CRIMES. THE DETECTIVE UNIT WILL ADVISE THE PATROL OFFICERS ON ROUTINE MATTERS BUT WILL CONCENTRATE ITS EFFORTS ON MAJOR CRIMES AND CRIME TRENDS. A SKILLED COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER WILL SERVE AS A RESOURCE PERSON FOR THIS ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM. THE DIVISION OF FIELD SERVICES INTO SMALL, STABLE UNITS IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXTENSIVE, BUT HERETOFORE NONEXISTENT, COMMUNICATIONS LINKS BETWEEN POLICE AND CITIZENS. IT IS HOPED THAT CITIZENS WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT CRIMES TO POLICE OFFICERS THEY KNOW AND TO COOPERATE MORE FULLY IN INVESTIGATIONS. THE EVALUATION WILL MEASURE OVERALL CRIME RATE REDUCTIONS, CRIME CLEARANCE RATES, PER CAPITA COSTS OF POLICE OPERATION, OFFICER SATISFACTION, AND CITIZEN BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES. BASELINE DATA WERE COLLECTED DURING 1976-1978. THE RESEARCH DESIGN WILL USE A TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS WITH MEASURES BEING TAKEN AT ABOUT 6-MONTH INTERVALS DURING THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT. COST OF THE EVALUATION IS ESTIMATED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)