U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

PHILADELPHIA - POLICE DEPARTMENT - NORTHWESTERN PHILADELPHIA STRIKE FORCE - ACT (ANTI-CRIME TEAM) 3 FINAL REPORT

NCJ Number
30677
Author(s)
D COOPER; J COOPER; M MCCARTHY; D PICKARD; J QUINN
Date Published
1975
Length
65 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF THE TACTICAL SUCCESS, ORGANIZATION, TRAINING AND OPERATION OF THREE HIGHLY MOBILE AND FLEXIBLE STRIKE FORCE TEAMS WHOSE MAIN MISSION IT IS TO REDUCE ROBBERY AND BURGLARY IN HARDENED TARGET AREAS.
Abstract
THE MAIN THRUST OF THE REPORT IS TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF QUESTIONNAIRES FILLED OUT BY THE ANTI-CRIME TEAM (ACT) PERSONNEL REGARDING THE ORGANIZATION, OPERATION, TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATED GRANT OBJECTIVES BY THE ACTS. THE SURVEY RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE ACT PERSONNEL BELIEVED THEY WERE REDUCING TARGET CRIMES EVEN THOUGH PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT STATISTICS DO NOT SUPPORT THIS. THE MOTIVATION AND ENTHUSIASM OF ACT PERSONNEL IS HIGH; PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT ARE WELL FOLLOWED AND OPERATIONALLY THE UNITS FUNCTION SMOOTHLY. THE UNITS DO NOT COMPLY CLOSELY WITH GRANT OBJECTIVES IN THE AREAS OF TARGET HARDENING AND CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES AND TACTICS. THE RESEARCHERS RECOMMEND CONTINUANCE OF THE THREE ACT UNITS, BUT STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REDEFINE THE PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, AMEND THE CUMBERSOME VEHICLE AND UNIFORM RESTRICTIONS NOW ON ONE OF THE TEAMS. PROVIDE THE UNITS WITH MORE AND BETTER CRIMINAL INFORMATION, AND ESTABLISH MORE MEANINGFUL MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS TO TEST AND MONITOR THE PROJECTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)