Policing: CompStat and San Diego Police Department

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Table of Contents

COMPSTAT
The COMPSTAT Process
The San Diego Police Department Community Policing
Interactive Mapping Application
Discussion
Conclusion
References

COMPSTAT

According to the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD), COMPSTAT is a crime analysis and police management process developed by the New York City Police Department with the essence that COMPSTAT collects, analyze and map crime data and other essential police performance measures on a regular basis and hold police managers accountable for their performance as measured by these data (PPD, 2007).

The Philosophy behind COMPSTAT is considered simple based on four principles that have proven to be essential ingredients of an effective crime-fighting strategy; namely:

Accurate and Timely Intelligence needed in effective crime-fighting requires. It is necessary that officers at all levels of the police department understand when – time of day, day of the week, week of the year – various types of crimes have been committed as well as who, how, where, and by whom they have been committed (PPD, 2007).
Effective Tactics is implemented after collated, analyzed and mapped this crime intelligence. The department’s commanders must develop effective tactics for dealing with the problems it reveals. These tactics must be comprehensive, flexible, and adaptable to changing trends to bring about permanent change in crime conditions and must involve other law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, DEA and ATF, the prosecutors, the probation services, other city agencies not directly connected to law enforcement, as well as the public: community groups, Operation Town Watch, among others (PPD, 2007).
Rapid Deployment of Personnel and Resources. This is achieved as soon as a tactical plan has been developed. The deployment of personnel and resources must be rapid and focused, and that the response to a crime or quality-of-life problem demands that patrol and special units coordinate their resources and expertise and act with a sense of urgency (PPD, 2007).
Relentless Follow-up and Assessment. This means that all actions must be relentlessly followed up and assessed to ensure that the desired results are achieved. This will ensure that recurring or similar problems are dealt with effectively in the future (PPD, 2007).

The COMPSTAT Process

Every state police department consequently has developed its own COMPSTAT process based on the above principles to ensure that each of the departments is actively involved in the fight against crime (PPD, 2007).

The process begins with the collection, analysis, and mapping of accurate and timely crime information undergone by the Department’s Crime Analysis and Mapping Unit with the help of Federal funds provided through the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (PPD, 2007). The unit is also staffed by civilians who are experts in the use of geographical information systems. It produces as many as 2000 maps a week. The PPD (2007) suggested that crime in each police District is broken down by type and then further analyzed to identify the place of occurrence as well as the time of day, day of the week, and week of the year of occurrence. Likewise, homicides, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults are broken down into those committed with and without guns. Aggravated assaults are further classified as domestic or non-domestic, while burglaries are listed as residential or commercial, and thefts are classified as retail theft, theft from a person, theft from auto, and auto theft. In addition, data are also captured involving shooting victims, shooting incidents, gun arrests, and gun seizures (PPD, 2007).

The PPD (2007) reported that each map displays information not only about current crime but also about the previous months’ enabling commanders to assess the impact and effectiveness of anti-crime strategies. Drug patterns are shown overlaying the crime data with the premise that narcotics are often behind violent crimes, so that district maps display narcotic arrests of both buyers and sellers along with reported crime (PPD, 2007).

Incidentally, crime is not the only data analyzed and mapped. The number of arrests and the number of cases still requiring investigation is also shown, while other maps highlight police activity such as vehicle and pedestrian investigations and moving and parking violations. In addition, the 911 calls in each District are also tallied, including the percentage of unfounded reports with the data captured both electronically and through manual means. After the data is aggregated, it is incorporated in the form of a CompStat Process Data Form, and the completed form is transmitted to the Department’s officials and all police district commanders (PPD, 2007).

The San Diego Police Department Community Policing

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) has divided the neighborhoods of the City of San Diego into regions to track crime, emergency, or crime-related activities. These are:

Northern Division
Northeastern Division
Northwestern Division
Eastern Division
Southeastern Division
Central Division
Western Division
Southern Division
Mid City Division (SDPD, 2007).

Below is the Map of Police Department neighborhoods:

Figure 1. Map of Police Department (San Diego Police Department, 2007).

The SDPD recognizes a shared responsibility and connection between the police and the community in making San Diego a safer, more livable city. In order to provide the best possible service, online and actual requests for additional patrol, report crimes, and giving feedback on officer performance, either positive or negative, are easily accessible (SDPD, 2007). Following are the online links and forms that individuals may retrieve and fill up for any police assistance needed:

Citizen Request Form
Reporting Emergencies
Reporting Non-Emergencies
Employee/Officer Commendations & Complaints
Useful Links
Frequently Asked Questions

The SDPD also revitalized the Neighborhood Watch in all of its communities with the mission to build and utilize all available resources to create a proactive community-police partnership for crime prevention and problem-solving in each community. The rationale behind the program is that there cannot be a police officer on every corner, so that citizen involvement is essential to combat crime.

The Neighborhood Watch is expected to result in the sense of ownership by members of each community as well as the development of a true community-police partnership. This is to reduce police service calls and reduction in crime or the fear of crime. The program aims to provide increased awareness, and when a community perspective or support is needed, Neighborhood Watch groups serve as a valuable resource (SDPD, 2007).

Interactive Mapping Application

In addition, law enforcement agencies in San Diego County, including the San Diego Police Department, have developed an Interactive Mapping Application where citizens can view crime activity in their neighborhoods. Citizens select a geographical area, a date range, and crime types, and a map of the specified activity appears where citizens can click on any incident on the map to get more details. Activity included are crimes, arrests, citations, and traffic incidents (SDPD, 2007).

Discussion

Which method is more effective for the Department for REDUCING CRIME?

The CompStat appears to be more sweeping and detailed when it comes to its planning, detailing crime data and incidences. This may mean reduced crime in the process.

Which style is more Responsive for COMMUNITY NEEDS?

While the CompStat appears to be comprehensive in its tactics and detailing, the San Diego Police Department, however, has directly connected to its private citizens, empowering the individuals to deal effectively on community issues that need police presence and action.

Conclusion

It is to be concluded that each technique of the CompStat and the SDPD has its advantages over the other in addressing crime prevention as well as community responsiveness. Both aim at the same level of efficiency and tracking of activities that needs police intervention but approached these in different and unique ways: CompStat is officer-dependent while the SDPD shares responsibility with the individual members of the community.

This means that while CompStat has its strength on the system and data held and managed by its officers, the SDPD has banked on community cooperation to deal with crime and crime prevention. In the end, both are aiming at crime reduction, although the means are different.

References

Philadelphia Police Department (2007). “CompStat Process.” Web.

San Diego Police Department. (2007). “Help Us Help You.” Web.

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