Can Directed Patrol With a Focus on Community Engagement Reduce “Backfire” Effects and Increase Equity?

• In Event: Outcomes from Portland’s Field Experiment with Directed Community Engagement Patrols

Abstract

A key concern for evidence-based policing practices is a potential “tradeoff” between effectiveness and equity (Engel & Eck, 2015; Renauer, 2012). Other scholars have noted a potential “backfire” effect of hot spots policing on community trust (Weisburd, Hinkle, Famega, Ready, 2011). These issues are explored in an experimental study on directed patrols emphasizing community engagement. Officers were encouraged to make positive citizen contacts in target areas as opposed to traffic stops. The key research questions are: 1) Can a community engagement style of directed patrol change “stop and search” activities in target neighborhoods and assigned officers, and 2) Can such a strategy alleviate potential racial/ethnic disparities in stop and search outcomes. Sixty 500’ X 500’ crime hot spots in Portland Oregon were randomly assigned to receive either two (30) or four supplemental police patrols per day (30) over a three month period. Stop and search activities in these areas (pre, during, and post experiment) are compared to 30 control sites that received no supplemental patrols during the active study period. Implications of the findings for equitable evidence-based policing practices are reviewed.

Authors

• Brian Renauer, Portland State University

• Kimberly Barsamian Kahn, Portland State University

• Renee Mitchell, American Society of Evidence Based Policing

• Christian Peterson, Porltand Police Bureau

• Yves Labissiere, Portland State University

• Kris R. Henning, Portland State University

• Sean Sothern, Portland Police Bureau

• Greg Stewart, Portland Police Bureau