Estimating Staffing for Investigative Units: Homicide

• In Event: Domestic and International Perspectives on Homicide and Homicide Investigations

Abstract

Patrol deployment analysis has become more widespread in previous years, using response times, utilization rates, overtime and call load to assess how many officers are needed to serve the community. Assessing the appropriate size of an investigation unit in police departments, however, is more nuanced and less reliant on quantitative measures of community demand. As homicide units vary largely in size and responsibilities (Cronin et al, 2007), the number of detectives in a homicide unit and the number of case assigned to them may vary significantly. Regardless of the size, numerous resources are often dedicated to one homicide, with several Units or departments involved in the successful investigation of one crime. Using an example from the Winnipeg Police Service, this paper demonstrates how this staffing analysis can be done for a department, and what data sources should be utilized to instruct the recommendations. By looking at caseload, the timing and type of overtime, shift patterns and other characteristics of the offence and the Unit, an appropriate number of investigators (and support personnel) can be estimated.

Authors

• Nahanni Pollard, Douglas College

• Curt T. Griffiths, Simon Fraser University