Lowell, Massachusetts
Evaluating Department-wide Reorganization
Project Overview
The Lowell, Massachusetts Police Department SPI undertook an extensive department reorganization to reduce property crime, increase community policing efforts and to institutionalize problem solving techniques. Activities included: 1) reorganization of geographic deployment of patrol; 2) creation of District Response Officers to work in teams; 3) decentralization of the crime analysis unit to neighborhood precincts; 4) productive interaction between crime analysts and patrol officers and supervisors; 5) modified supervision structure; 6) increased community policing and problem solving through the adoption of a case of place approach; 7) training of officers and supervisors in best practices; and 8) revamping Compstat to integrate problem solving and community policing.
Methods and Findings
Research Design
Interrupted time series research design complemented by a process evaluation.
Findings
- From 2014 to 2017, crimes decreased by 17% from 5,694 to 4,723. The largest decreases were in car breaks (34.7%), burglary (25.5%), and aggravated assaults (24.6%).
- Decentralization of the Crime Analysis and Intelligence Unit (CAIU) has had a significantly positive impact on the interaction between analysts, officers and supervisors, literally creating a direct relationship between analysts and officers in the field.
- CAIU decentralization has increased information sharing across CAIU, officers and supervisors.
