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PATROL FORCE ALLOCATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT - AN INTRODUCTORY PLANNING GUIDE

NCJ Number
34409
Author(s)
R L SOHN; R D KENNEDY
Date Published
1978
Length
254 pages
Annotation
THIS MANUAL PRESENTS METHODS FOR ANALYZING AND OPTIMIZING THE ALLOCATION OF AVAILABLE FORCES TO BEST MATCH THE DEMAND IN THE FORM OF CALLS FOR SERVICE, WHICH VARY CONSIDERABLY IN PLACE AND IN TIME.
Abstract
PREVIOUS AND CURRENT METHODS FOR ANALYZING POLICE PATROL FORCES ARE REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED. THE STEPS IN DEVELOPING AN ALLOCATION ANALYSIS PROCEDURE ARE DEFINED. INCLUDING THE PREDICTION OF THE RATE OF CALLS FOR SERVICE, DETERMINATION OF THE NUMBER OF PATROL UNITS NEEDED, DESIGNING SECTORS, AND ANALYZING DISPATCH STRATEGIES. EXISTING COMPUTER PROGRAMS USED FOR THIS PURPOSE ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED, AND SOME RESULTS OF THEIR APPLICATION ARE GIVEN. THIS DOCUMENT IS ONE OF A SERIES OF FIVE GUIDELINE MANUALS ON MOBILE DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH, AUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATION, PATROL FORCE ALLOCATION, AND MULTICOMMUNITY COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS. FOR THE OTHER DOCUMENTS IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ-34410, 32262-63, AND 28581. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)