NCJ Number
25060
Date Published
1975
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT PRESENTS A NONTECHNICAL OVERVIEW OF A SIMULATION MODEL OF POLICE PATROL OPERATIONS WHICH UTILIZES THE HYPERCUBE QUEUEING MODEL THEORY.
Abstract
IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATORS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SIMULATION IS, WHEN IT SHOULD BE USED, HOW IT WORKS, WHAT INFORMATION IT PROVIDES AS OUTPUT, AD WHAT DATA AND COMPUTER RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO USE IT. SINCE THE SIMULATION IS LARGE, COMPLICATED, AND RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE TO IMPLEMENT AND OPERATE, A DESCRIPTION IS GIVEN OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SIMPLER MODELS MIGHT BE USED INSTEAD. THE SIMULATION PROGRAM TRACKS EACH OF A LARGE NUMBER OF CALLS FOR SERVICE FROM THEIR RECEIPT IN THE DISPATCHING OFFICE, THROUGH THEIR DISPATCH, THE ARRIVAL OF CARS AT THE SCENE, COMPLETION OF WORK, AND THE CARS' RETURN TO PATROL ACTIVITY. ITS PRIMARY USES IS IN THE ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED PATROL CAR DEPLOYMENT POLICIES, SUCH AS NEW DISPATCHING PROCEDURES OR CHNAGES IN THE NUMBER OF PATROL CARS ASSIGNED TO A REGION. RESULTS ARE REPORTED IN TERMS OF DISPATCHING DELAYS, RESPONSE TIMES, AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PATROL CARS. FOR THE FULL REPORT, SEE NCJ-18236. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)