NCJ Number
112241
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 55 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1988) Pages: 30,32-33
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Washington State Patrol's Traffic Enforcement and Management system (TEAMS), an organizational approach to reducing traffic accidents, was developed in response to increased traffic collisions, reduced productivity, scarce fiscal resources, and an organizational focus on work process rather than results.
Abstract
The key element of TEAMS is participative management involving the total complement of traffic officers and their managers. The TEAMS process begins with the establishment of local area accident reduction goals. Local troopers then formulate and implement action plans to meet these goals. Performance measurement operationalizes organizational expectations and assists in effective and efficient traffic law enforcement. Staffing and deployment models used by patrols use work output information and performance measurement to allocate resources and increase productivity. Economic performance reporting focuses on the economic value of job performance, cost effectiveness, and return on investment (cost/benefit analysis). The three most important measures used to evaluate program success relate directly to results and the work process. These include reportable accidents investigated, the productivity ratio (violator contacts per trooper), and the quality enforcement index (the productivity ratio divided by investigated accidents). Evaluation of the program has shown that it has increased the State's highway safety, improved officer morale and motivation, increased community involvement, and resulted in more effective and efficient service.