NCJ Number
52589
Date Published
1978
Length
101 pages
Annotation
A PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT INITIATED BY THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, CALIF., IN 1974 INVOLVING A STUDY OF THE POLICE PATROL BUREAU IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
GOALS OF THE OVERALL PROJECT WERE TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CITY OPERATIONS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF ENGINEERED METHODS AND WORK STANDARDS, TO DEVELOP AN ONGOING IN-HOUSE ABILITY TO IDENTIFY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MEANS BY WHICH COSTS COULD BE REDUCED OR SERVICE LEVELS INCREASED USING EXISTING RESOURCES, AND TO DETERMINE STAFFING REQUIREMENTS SYSTEMATICALLY AND DEVELOP WORK STANDARDS FOR 70 PERCENT OF THE CITY'S WORK FORCE. THE POLICE PATROL BUREAU ASPECT OF THE PROJECT HAD THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: (1) DOCUMENT HOW THE BUREAU FUNCTIONS IN TERMS OF ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, PERSONNEL UTILIZATION, MANAGEMENT, AND OPERATING PRACTICES; (2) IDENTIFY APPROACHES FOR SIMPLIFYING WORK, STREAMLINING OPERATIONS, AND IMPROVING PERSONNEL UTILIZATION WHERE APPROPRIATE; (3) DEVELOP AND APPLY A METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING AND VALIDATING STAFFING NEEDS FOR THE BUREAU; AND (4) IMPROVE THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO MANAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS FOR PLANNING AND MONITORING POLICE PATROL PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY WHERE APPROPRIATE, AND INSTALL ASSOCIATED REPORTING SYSTEMS. THE FIRST PART OF THE EVALUATION PLAN INVOLVED ORIENTATION, PREPARING A PROFILE OF THE BUREAU, AND DEVELOPING WORKLOAD STATISTICS. A FORMULA WAS DEVISED TO DOCUMENT PATROL OFFICER STAFFING NEEDS. BENEFITS RESULTING FROM THE INSTITUTION OF PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BUREAU INVOLVED SAVINGS FOR PATROL OPERATIONS OF $948,455 FOR FISCAL YEAR 1979 AND $1,785,307 FOR FISCAL YEAR 1980. AN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL SAVINGS OF $42,094 WAS REALIZED BY REVISED MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY STAFFING. THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING OF THE BUREAU, PATROL OPERATION AND WORK PRACTICES, AND PATROL PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING ARE DELINEATED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PATROL OPERATION AND ANALYSIS PROCEDURES IS INCLUDED IN APPENDIXES. (DEP)