Balancing Cost and Quality of Police Service: A Multi-Site Assessment of Police Consolidation

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Communities have increasing interest in police consolidation, but there is little evidence to guide their consideration and implementation of various models. As part of a National Institute of Justice-funded study, a team of researchers affiliated with the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice’s Program on Police Consolidation and Shared Services is examining the implementation, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency of three models of police consolidation: merger, regionalization, and contracting. This panel showcases the multi-method approach and initial findings relative to the assessment of implementation and effects of these forms of consolidation in four agencies: Lakes Area Police Department (MN), Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (CA), Oakland County Sheriff’s Department (MI), and York Area Regional Police Department (PA). The results advance our knowledge about police organizational change, and the difficulties and opportunities it creates for police agencies and communities, particularly as they attempt to balance both the cost and quality of service.

Sub Unit

• Area VIII: Policing

Individual Presentations

• Variations in Citizen Attitudes Towards Police - Steven M. Chermak, Michigan State University; Jeremy Wilson, Michigan State University

• Examining Officer Perceptions of Consolidation Across Four Agencies - Jeff Gruenewald, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis

• The Effects of Police Consolidation on Crime and Homicide: Examining the Impact in Compton, California - Nicholas Corsaro, University of Cincinnati; Jeremy Wilson, Michigan State University

• Cost Allocation in Consolidated Police Agencies - Alexander Weiss, Michigan State University

Chair

• Jeremy Wilson, Michigan State University

Discussant

• Jeremy Wilson, Michigan State University