Question

Discuss the four approaches (Per Capita, Minimum Staffing, Authorized Level, & Work-load Based) to police officer staffing and allocation

Answer 1

1. The per capita way is related with the optimum number of officers per person and the number of officers needed for the population of a jurisdiction. The optimum officer rate, however depends upon comparison of rates with peers by location, size, or crime.

2. The minimum staffing approach focuses on estimation of a sufficient number of patrol officers to be deployed at any one time to maintain officer safety and protect the public as well. There is not a mandatory or necessary standard for setting the minimum staffing level. Population, crime rate etc. can be considered.

3. The authorized level approach better emphsises budget allocations to specify a number of officers. The approach gets a trigger due to resource availability and political decision-making. It is concerned with incremental budgeting process and contradicts with criteria such as demand for service and community expectations.

4. Work load based on demand for service indicators is a better and more comprehensive way. The workload approach estimates future staffing needs of police departments. This assists in determining the need for additional resources or relocating existing resources (by time and location), assessing individual and group performance and productivity, and detecting trends in workload that may illustrate changing activity levels and conditions.