Tag: Police Staffing

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Police Benchmark Cities Survey

Several years ago I accidentally discovered the “benchmark cities survey” and I haven’t heard it talked about in academic and policing circles. It is a fantastic resource. the Survey consists of 5 major areas: Demographics, Budget, General Performance & Service Measures, Crime & Clearance, NIBRS Crime & Clearance, and Traffic Safety. Below are links to a few different years of the survey. This survey would be helpful for police in making knowledge based decisions, students for a police administration course, and academic research.

In 1997, a group of police chiefs from around the country established the benchmark cities survey, which created measurement tool to help ensure police departments provide the best service possible within their respective communities. Overland Park Police Department has taken the lead in compiling the survey results. The survey, updated annually, provides a range of information about each department. With that information, the participating agencies can set better goals and objectives, and compare their performance in the various areas.
The Overland Park Police Department 2020 Survey can be found HERE

The Olathe Police Department (OPD) has links to the 2019 benchmark city survey – HERE

  • The Lawrence KS PD combined all the PowerPoint presentations into a single presentation:
    • The 2019 presentation can be accessed HERE and
    • The 2018 Presentation is HERE
    • The 2017 Presentation HERE
    • I can’t find a report for 2016
    • The 2015 report is HERE
    • The 2014 report can’t be located
    • The 2013 report can be found HERE
    • Thank you Lawrence PD!!!!!

The Cost of Crime – 2

Hidden in Plain Sight: What Cost-of-Crime Research Can Tell Us About Investing in Police

Many state and local governments are facing significant fiscal challenges, forcing policymakers to confront difficult trade-offs as they consider how to allocate scarce resources across numerous worthy initiatives. To achieve their policy priorities, it will become increasingly important for policymakers to concentrate resources on programs that can clearly demonstrate that they improve their constituents’ quality of life. To identify such programs, cost/benefit analysis can be a powerful tool for objectively adjudicating the merits of particular programs.
The report can be downloaded HERE

Cost of Crime Calculator

Existing high-quality research on the costs of crime and the effectiveness of police demonstrates that public investment in police can generate substantial social returns. A Center on Quality Policing study, Hidden in Plain Sight: What Cost-of-Crime Research Can Tell Us About Investing in Police, shows how this research can be used to better understand the returns on investments in police.
Go to this website (HERE) to try the “cost of crime calculator” and see how altering police staffing affects crime in the community