NCJ Number
77991
Date Published
1978
Length
314 pages
Annotation
Grant application activities, planning, implementation, and outcome are reported for the San Jose Police Department's Patrol Emphasis Project (Calif.)
Abstract
The Patrol Emphasis Program (PEP), as described in the LEAA grant guidelines, was designed to provide funding to police agencies for placing current patrol manpower in more effective positions to prevent criminal attacks and/or affect apprehension of criminals. The project's stated objective was to make fuller use of existing resources rather than increase hardware and manpower. The grant parameters were particularly relevant to the need of the San Jose Police Department to meet increased service demand within a limited budget. The primary project product was a patrol allocation plan, which evolved from a lengthy series of analytical efforts in the area of resource allocation models. The final plan involved redistricting the city, changing the working hours of the patrol officers, and manning individual beats according to the demand for service. The revision of district boundaries required a significant change to the 'beat book,' which is a compilation of information necessary for field officers, supervisors, analysts, and complaint and dispatch units. Although a long-term evaluation of the plan is still underway, two preliminary reports indicate that despite increased demands for service, response times have decreased. Appended are a copy of the first-year evaluation, the patrol allocation plan, the beat book and methodology, the citizen survey on attitudes about police service, and the conceptual model. Tables and figures are also provided.