Working Smarter? Assessing the Impact of Patrol-Driven Intelligence Training on Officer Productivity and Proactivity

• In Event: Police Patrol Issues and Solutions

Abstract

Intelligence-led policing (ILP) is a key framework that has been identified to have the potential to be useful in efficiently reducing crime and harm. While many strategies potentially fall under this framework, one contemporary approach that merits further attention is those that are patrol-driven as opposed to those that take a more traditional top-down approach. A prime example of patrol-driven ILP is the Phoenix Police Department’s Intelligence Officer Program (IOP). For this presentation, we examine the impacts of the IOP’s training on traditional policing metrics as measured by the Phoenix Police Department’s Crime Analysis and Research Unit. More specifically, we examine the impact of the training on patrol officer productivity and proactivity. Productivity is measured in terms of arrests, field interviews, and incident reports while proactivity is assessed in regard to self-initiated calls. Generally, our findings demonstrate that participation in IOP training decreased officer productivity and proactivity. Implications of these findings, limitations, and directions for future research will be discussed.

Authors

• Jon Bottema, University of Southern Mississippi

• Cody Telep, Arizona State University