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QUADRANT MODEL - A PRESCRIPTIVE CURE FOR INVESTIGATIVE POLARIZATION

NCJ Number
68133
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 47 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1980) Pages: 56-61
Author(s)
R B WHITAKER
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
BUILT ON THREE INVESTIGATIVE EVOLUTIONARY PERIODS, THE INVESTIGATIVE QUADRANT MODEL AIMS FOR INVESTIGATIVE INNOVATION THAT PARALLELS POLICE RELATED TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENTS.
Abstract
THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE OF POLICE REVITALIZATION IS TO DEVELOP WITHIN POLICE AGENCIES THE CAPACITY OF SELF-RENEWAL. YET WHILE INVESTMENT IN MODERNIZING POLICE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES IS NECESSARY, GREATER EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS, ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM, AND SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL CONCERNS. THREE INVESTIGATIVE PERIODS IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAVE SEEN THE EVOLUTION OF POLICING FROM THE WATCHMAN OR CONSTABLE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING ORDER AND PREVENTING CRIME, TO THE SPECIALIST-GENERALIST MODEL TO THE TEAM POLICING MODEL. THE OBJECTIVE, THE FOURTH MODEL, THE INVESTIGATIVE QUADRANT MODEL, WAS TO STRUCTURALLY OVERHAUL THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS TO INDUCE INVESTIGATIVE REMEDIAL ACTION. QUADRANT ONE, THE INVESTIGATIVE STRIKE FORCE, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFICATION AND INCARCERATION OF MAJOR CRIME CONTRIBUTORS, AND QUADRANT TWO, THE GENERAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAPERWORK. QUADRANT THREE, THE POSTARREST INVESTIGATIVE UNIT, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING CLOSE LIAISON WITH OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMPONENTS AND FOR OBTAINING CRIMINAL FILINGS. FINALLY, QUADRANT FOUR, THE SPECIALIZED INVESTIGATIVE UNIT, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING SPECIALIZED CRIMES REQUIRING A HIGH DEGREE OF EXPERTISE. THROUGH THIS MODEL, EXISTING BUDGETARY ALLOWANCES AND PERSONNEL ALLOCATIONS CAN BE USED FOR PILOT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. PERSONNEL STAGNATION WOULD BE SOLVED BY THE YEARLY ROTATION OF 75 PERCENT OF THE DETECTIVES FROM QUADRANT TO QUADRANT. UNIFORMED INVESTIGATIVE TRAINEE PERSONNEL ASSIGNED INVESTIGATIVE QUADRANTS WOULD BE ROTATED QUARTERLY, AND THE CRIME RATE WOULD DECREASE THROUGH IDENTIFICATION AND INCARCERATION OF MAJOR CRIME CONTRIBUTORS. POLICE-PROSECUTOR RELATIONS WOULD BE STRENGTHENED BY TRAINING UNIFORMED AND DETECTIVE PERSONNEL IN FILING PRACTICES AND CASE PRESENTATIONS. FINALLY, PATROL RESPONSE AND EFFECTIVENESS AT SCENES OF PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS WOULD IMPROVE THROUGH TRAINING AND ROTATION IN SPECIFIC QUADRANTS. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)