THE OFFICER FEEDBACK SYSTEM AT THE GARLAND, TEX., POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT SELECTS DATA FROM EXISTING COMPUTER FILES AND PRODUCES A ONE-PAGE, INDIVIDUALIZED PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR EACH PATROL OFFICER. THE REPORT CONTAINS TWO TYPES OF DATA: COUNTABLE OFFICER PRODUCTION ITEMS (CALLS HANDLED, CITATIONS ISSUED, ARRESTS MADE, MILES TRAVELED); AND ELAPSED TIME OFFICER PERFORMANCE (A SUMMARY OF AN OFFICER'S PERFORMANCE IN RESPONDING TO CALLS, HANDLING CALLS, AND PERFORMING OTHER DUTIES). THE SYSTEM DOES NOT CREATE DATA, BUT RATHER ORGANIZES, SUMMARIZES, AND DISPLAYS EXISTING DATA IN A MANNER THAT IS USEFUL TO OFFICERS IN EVALUATING THEIR OWN PERFORMANCE. THE SYSTEM IS INTENDED TO HELP OFFICERS ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FOR PATROLLING THEIR DISTRICTS AND TO HELP THEM ANALYZE TRADEOFFS IN ALLOCATING THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES. THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND OPERATING CONCEPTS OF THE COMPUTER PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED. A SAMPLE REPORT AND INTERPRETATIONS OF DATA CONTAINED IN THE REPORT ARE PROVIDED. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING IN ASSURING THAT THE FEEDBACK SYSTEM ACHIEVES ITS POTENTIAL IS NOTED. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SYSTEM ARE PRESENTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)