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ST LOUIS - METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT - FOOT PATROL FIELD REVIEW REPORT

NCJ Number
15624
Author(s)
J CAVATO; R JOINER; D MCCARTHY
Date Published
1973
Length
25 pages
Annotation
PROJECT TO PRIVIDE INCREASED VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE IN AREAS AND AT TIMES WHEN THE IMPACT CRIMES OF BURGLARY AND ROBBERY OCCUR WITH THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY.
Abstract
THE PROJECT INCLUDED THE FOOT PATROL OF 20 HIGH CRIME BLOCKS, 3 MOBILIZED PATROL UNITS, AND A SHOPPING AREA PATROL. THE PATTERNS EMPLOYED WERE ROBBERY AND PURSE SNATCHING PATROL BETWEEN 4 P.M. AND 6 P.M., NIGHTTIME BURGLARY PATROL, SHOPPING CENTER PATROL, AND DAYTIME BURGLARY PATROL WHICH OPERATED IN CASUAL ATTIRE AND FOCUSED ON AREAS OF HIGH DAYTIME ACTIVITY. THE REPORT REVIEWS PROGRAM AND FISCAL OPERATIONS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH LEAA GRANT REQUIREMENTS. DETAILED IS THE UTILIZATION OF PATROL ACTIVITY DATA FOR MONITORING AND CONTROL OF THE PROJECT. THE REPORT FOUND THAT IMPACT CRIMES IN PATROLLED AREAS DECREASED CAMPARED TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE THROUGHOUT THE PERIODS OF PATROL OPERATION. THE DECREASE WAS PROGRESSIVELY SMALLER, HOWEVER, AS THE PATROL PATTERNS SHIFTED TO LESS CONCENTRATED DEPLOYMENT. THE TYPE OF IMPACT CRIME WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MOST AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT IS BURGLARY, ESPECIALLY DAY RESIDENCE BURGLARY. INCLUDED ARE GRAPHS COMPARING THE INCIDENCE OF VARIOUS OFFENSES IN PATROLLED AREAS RELATIVE TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE. PROGRAM BENEFITS EVALUATION IS IN THE APPENDIX.