problem oriented policing 1

• As the newly appointed police chief, you are acutely aware that patrol resources are stretched thin.

During evening hours it is not unusual for every patrol unit to be out on a call-for-service—a dangerous situation for both the public and officers.

You decide to immediately implement a differential response program, handling selected offense and nuisance complaints by taking a report over the phone, or directing the complainant to the agency’s website for “e-filing” of the report.

What procedures and/or policies do you develop to assure that the process is not applied disproportionately to some classes of citizens?

• Responding to assistance calls involving persons in a mental health crisis is challenging for patrol officers on several levels. One of these is the inordinate amount of time that is typically consumed for adequate response to these situations. Explain why this is problematic for police agencies.
• The ramifications of psychological stress in law enforcement have been well documented. Both social and physiological indicators confirm that policing is a stressful profession. List performance factors that you might examine that would serve as an early warning that an officer is not coping well.