Lowell, Massachusetts
Evaluating Department-wide Reorganization
![Lowell Patch](/sites/default/files/Lowell%20PD%20Badge.jpg)
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.