To improve management of investigations, police chiefs must critically examine all facats of the criminal investigation process, including the methods used, the personnel assigned, and the results obtained. The first step in this evaluation is the gathering and recording of accurate information since a police department's effectiveness is directly related to the quality of its record system. Adequate managerial controls based on accurate records are needed in order to produce proper assignment of cases, equitable caseloads, effective investigative responses, and investigative continuity. In evaluating police officers for potential investigative assignments, a police chief should consider such traits as the ability to create a good first impression and command attention, emotional stability, good judgment, and personal initiative. Efficient case management requires avoidance of trivial investigations or meaningless activity, appropriate workloads, closing of cases within a reasonable time period, and use of single investigators for routine investigations. Other factors crucial to efficient investigations are close working relationships between the police department and the district attorney's office, police investigators and the public, and the patrol and investigative units. Additional factors include rapid response to the scene of a crime and early closure of cases with low chances of being solved. Without efficient investigation and the solving of crimes, the crime rate and the fear of crime will both grow.