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DEVELOPMENT OF AN INJURY AND DAMAGE REDUCTION FUNCTION FOR MUNICIPAL POLICE - FINAL REPORT

NCJ Number
2752
Author(s)
T W PLANEK; R C FOWLER
Date Published
1971
Length
413 pages
Annotation
DEFINITION OF VEHICULAR AND NON-VEHICULAR ACCIDENT, INJURY AND DAMAGE PROBLEMS AMONG MUNICIPAL POLICE AND RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS AND METHODS TO REDUCE THEM.
Abstract
SITE VISITS MADE TO 10 DEPARTMENTS AND GENERAL SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES WERE COMPLETED BY 118 DEPARTMENTS TO OBTAIN DATA ON INJURY AND DAMAGE REDUCTION PROGRAMMING. THE PRIMARY INJURY AND DAMAGE AREAS FOUND TO BE MOST COSTLY TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AND POLICE ACTION INJURIES. REVIEW OF POLICE INJURY AND DAMAGE REDUCTION PROGRAMMING INDICATED DEFINITE WEAKNESSES IN RECORD KEEPING, TRAINING AND OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES. VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND INSPECTION SYSTEMS WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT IN TERMS OF INJURY AND DAMAGE REDUCTION CONSIDERATIONS. CURRENT MUNICIPAL POLICE INJURY AND DAMAGE REDUCTION CONCERN HAS BEEN PLACED ON REDUCING MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS WHILE FORMAL PROGRAMMING TO REDUCE PERSONNEL INJURIES HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN THE DEGREE OF EMPHASIS REQUIRED. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTEGRATED INJURY AND DAMAGE REDUCTION FUNCTION IS PRESENTED. SELECTED GENERAL AND SPECIFIC COUNTERMEASURES FOR VARIOUS POLICE VEHICULAR AND NON-VEHICULAR INJURY AND DAMAGE PROBLEMS, AND INJURY AND DAMAGE EVENT RECORD FORMS ARE PRESENTED AND DESCRIBED AS A COMPLETE PROGRAM FOR TRAINING AND INSPECTION. THE NEED TO ADOPT A WELLPLANNED APPROACH TO INJURY AND DAMAGE REDUCTION IS EMPHASIZED AS IS THE NECESSITY TO BUILD EVALUATIVE PROCEDURES INTO ALL PROGRAMS. REFERENCE ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)