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The Daytona Beach Police Department
submitted its Computerized Statistical Analysis (COMPSTAT) Program as an
exemplary project. COMPSTAT is modeled after the New York Police
Department's COMPSTAT Program. Meetings are held twice per month and are
attended by police personnel, volunteers and citizens. During the
COMPSTAT meeting, not only are crime statistics discussed and analyzed,
but quality of life issues are also addressed. The model holds
commanders and officers responsible for crime in their geographical
areas. Problems are attacked from a variety of innovative angles to
bring about swift resolution.
The assessment team attended the July 24
COMPSTAT Meeting held at 10:00a.m. at the department. After the opening,
the Chief introduced citizens attending and commended officers who
displayed exemplary performance in solving community issues and
apprehending suspects. The Daytona Beach Police Department’s COMPSTAT
program is a process of applying four key principles that use technology
such as mapping, charting, and statistical analysis, as a tool for
targeting crime and applying officer resources based on the intelligence
gathered through the technology. The four principles are:
Principle 1: Timely, Accurate
Intelligence
Intelligence must be accurate and timely to be effective. Officers at
all levels of the organization must have a precise understanding of when
types of crimes are occurring, how and where the crimes are being
committed, and who the criminals are. Traditional policing tactics are
directed at apprehending the suspect. While criminal apprehension is an
important part of COMPSTAT, it does not stop there. COMPSTAT requires
the police to give attention to the social and environmental situation
that may be adding to or creating the problem.
Principle 2: Effective Tactics
Effective tactics must be developed after studying and analyzing the
intelligence. In order to bring about permanent change these tactics
must be comprehensive, flexible, and adaptable to changing crime trends.
Solutions, as often as possible, should be collaborative, including
support units, other agencies and the public. COMPSTAT tactics encourage
thinking outside the box and mandate that every resource, both internal
and external, is considered when police respond to a problem. Just
employing tactics that displaces the crime problem from one area to
another is not acceptable.
Principle 3: Rapid Deployment
For decades, police departments have been driven by calls for service
and responded with limited resources in a reactive manner. With COMPSTAT,
the police department is armed with vital information regarding emerging
crime trends or patterns that allow for a proactive strategic police
response. Once a tactical plan is developed it is necessary to organize
and put into operation an assortment of personnel and resources. By
being able to quickly organize and deploy resources in the field in a
timely manner, the department is able to control the crime problem
before it becomes a crisis. Police can respond to problems using many
forms, including traditional uniformed or plainclothes officer response
as well as nontraditional stings and decoys. By breaking down the
barriers among the operating units, a new spirit of cooperation and
working together materializes and enables the rapid deployment of
resources.
Principle 4: Relentless Follow-Up and
Assessment:
An essential element in any operation is the need to critically assess
past tactics and review what worked and what did not. One of the main
differences between private enterprise and the public sector is the
bottom line of positive returns. If a business implements an
unsuccessful strategy or provides an unacceptable level of customer
service, it is not long before it becomes a failed business. Much like a
business, the bottom line with COMPSTAT is results. To properly
implement COMPSTAT it is essential to record data before and after the
tactics have been deployed in terms of reports of crimes, arrests made,
and results achieved. It is necessary to assess the results from the
tactics employed; establish the validity of the tactic; know how the
tactic worked and state clearly which elements worked best, thereby
allowing for the design of tactics addressing future crime problems.
For more information please contact Larry Lightfoot @
llightfoot@dbpd.us
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