NCJ Number
13774
Date Published
Unknown
Length
89 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OF A PROJECT TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BURGLARY THROUGH THE USE OF INNOVATIONS IN POLICE TACTICS AND TECHNOLOGY.
Abstract
THE PROJECT INVOLVED THE CREATION OF A TEAM POLICING UNIT WHICH BECAME KNOWN AS THE SPECIAL CRIME ATTACK TEAM (SCAT). UNLIKE MANY SPECIALIZED UNITS IN OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THE DENVER PROJECT CONCENTRATED ON PREVENTION AND DETERRENCE ALONG WITH AN INTENSIFIED EFFORT AT INVESTIGATION AND APPREHENSION. THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO THE TEAM'S OFFICERS IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS AS A FIRST STEP. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS BUILT INTO THE PROJECT AS A MAJOR COMPONENT, A CITIZEN SERVICE FUNCTION OF THE TEAM. THIS INCLUDED FREE SECURITY AND PREVENTION INSPECTIONS OF HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS. ALSO, THE TEAM PERSONNEL ESTABLISHED A POLICY OF CONTACTING NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUSINESS GROUPS WHEN THEY INITIATED OPERATIONS WITHIN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. THEY EXPLAINED THE PURPOSE AND METHODS OF SCAT, THE ACRONYM BY WHICH THE PROJECT CAME TO BE KNOWN, AND PROVIDED SECURITY AND PREVENTION DEMONSTRATIONS FOR THESE GROUPS. DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OPERATION, THE SCAT TEAM TARGET AREA SHOWED A DECREASE OF 27 PERCENT IN THE INCIDENCE OF BURGLARY OVER A SIMILAR PERIOD OF TIME IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE POLICE ACHIEVED ALL OF THE OBJECTIVES WHICH HAD BEEN SET FOR THE PROJECT AND IN MANY CASES WERE FAR ABOVE EXPECTATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ROBBERY RATE IN OTHER PARTS OF DENVER SUFFERED AN ALARMING INCREASE. THE SCAT TEAM EXPANDED ITS OPERATIONS TO REDUCE THE OVERALL BURGLARY RATE. ONE OF THE TASK ACTIVITIES INVOLVED A SURVEY OF ALL POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL ROBBERY SITES, THE SELECTION OF THE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TARGETS, AND ROBBERY PREVENTION INSPECTIONS FOR THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES IF IT WAS DESIRED BY THE MANAGEMENT. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES INCLUDED UNDERCOVER SURVEILLANCE OF TARGET SITES, HIGH VISIBILITY PATROL DURING PEAK ROBBERY PERIODS AND JOINT GROUND/AIR PATROL. THE TEAM LEARNED AS THEY WORKED AND AS THEY BECAME MORE PROFICIENT AT THEIR TASKS. THE ROBBERY RATE DECLINED 23 PERCENT IN THE OPERATIONAL AREAS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1973. ALL THE OBJECTIVES OF ANTI-ROBBERY OPERATION WERE ACHIEVED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)