NCJ Number
53615
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 356-381
Date Published
1978
Length
26 pages
Annotation
ANALYSES OF POLICE DISPATCH RECORDS AND PATROL OFFICER DISPUTE RECORDING FORMS INDICATE THAT SPECIAL TRAINING INSTITUTED IN VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, DID NOT GREATLY AFFECT THE HANDLING OF DOMESTIC CALLS.
Abstract
THIS EVALUATION TOOK PLACE DURING JULY AND AUGUST 1976. ONCE THE FIRST MEMBERS OF A SPECIAL DOMESTIC CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM BEGAN PATROL DUTY, DISPATCHERS WERE TRAINED TO ELICIT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ABOUT DOMESTIC DISPUTES AND TO RELAY FULL DETAILS TO RESPONDING PATROL OFFICERS. THE FIRST PART OF THE STUDY ANALYZED ALL POLICE SERVICE REQUESTS FOR A 4 WEEK PERIOD, DURING WHICH TIME 117 CALLS CLASSIFIED AS DOMESTIC DISPUTES WERE RECEIVED. IT WAS FOUND THAT, DESPITE TRAINING, DISPATCHERS DID NOT ASK IF WEAPONS WERE BEING USED, MADE LITTLE ATTEMPT TO GATHER FULL DATA, OFTEN DID NOT RELAY WHAT INFORMATION WAS GATHERED TO THE PATROL OFFICERS, AND SHOWED LITTLE CONSISTENCY IN CLASSIFYING CALLS AS TO URGENCY. NO UNIVERSAL CRITERIA WAS APPLIED FOR THE DISPATCHING OF A PATROL CAR. SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS FROM DEPARTMENTAL TAPES ARE SUMMARIZED TO SHOW LESS THAN ADEQUATE DISPATCHER RESPONSES. THE SECOND SECTION OF THE STUDY USED FORMS FILLED OUT BY PATROL OFFICERS AFTER ANSWERING A CALL. SO FEW WERE RETURNED NO DEFINITIVE ANALYSIS WAS POSSIBLE, BUT INDICATIONS WERE THAT TRAINED OFFICERS WERE MORE LIKELY TO MAKE A REFERRAL TO A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY. THE RESULTS OF THESE REFERRALS WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO TRACE DUE TO LACK OF AGENCY COOPERATION. THE STUDY ANALYZES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 92 STUDY CALLS AND SUGGESTS CHANGES IN PROCEDURE. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)