Evaluating the Use of the “Koper Curve” Patrol Strategy in Practice

• In Event: Optimizing Patrol Time in Crime Hot Spots: Revisiting the “Koper Curve” Strategy After 30 Years - Sponsored by the Division of Policing

Abstract

This presentation will review and critically assess the results of published patrol studies that have used the “Koper Curve” patrol strategy, which emphasizes regular but unpredictable stops of 11-15 minutes at hot spot street blocks and intersections. The review will examine how effective this strategy has been in different contexts and whether it appears to be more effective than other methods of patrolling hot spots. The results will be taken from a broader project seeking to determine the most effective methods and dosages for hot spot patrols based on an examination of nearly 40 studies testing patrol-only interventions at micro-place hot spots of crime and disorder.

Authors

• Christopher Koper, George Mason University

• Kevin Petersen, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• Hyunji Lee, George Mason University