My agency has recently switched to Geo-based policing. Does anyone else's department deploy in this manner, and what are your experiences with it?
Before the switch, the city was divided into 4 precincts. There were 4 patrol platoons per precinct, working fixed 12 hour shifts. Each platoon would typically deploy 10-12 patrolman, 2 sergeants, and a lieutenent, with the exception of 4th Pct., which was primarily the downtown business/bar district, and had fewer beats. There was also a Paddy wagon in each Pct., and a desk officer for each Pct.
The city itself is divided geographicaly almost in half by the James River. 2nd Pct. used to encompass the south side of the city.
Now, each Pct. has had their boundaries changed radically, with 3 "sectors" in each Pct. Two of the Pcts. have sectors on both sides of the river, and only 5 bridges to use to cross the river.
We are now covering more area with fewer people than before....and this is after they took away our 12 hour shifts and gave us an 8.5 hour shift with fixed days off, which was extremely unpopular.
If anyone has any insight on why this is an advantage, I'd love to hear it. Also, anyone who has experienced this in their agency and found it to be worthless, I'd like to hear from you.
Before the switch, the city was divided into 4 precincts. There were 4 patrol platoons per precinct, working fixed 12 hour shifts. Each platoon would typically deploy 10-12 patrolman, 2 sergeants, and a lieutenent, with the exception of 4th Pct., which was primarily the downtown business/bar district, and had fewer beats. There was also a Paddy wagon in each Pct., and a desk officer for each Pct.
The city itself is divided geographicaly almost in half by the James River. 2nd Pct. used to encompass the south side of the city.
Now, each Pct. has had their boundaries changed radically, with 3 "sectors" in each Pct. Two of the Pcts. have sectors on both sides of the river, and only 5 bridges to use to cross the river.
We are now covering more area with fewer people than before....and this is after they took away our 12 hour shifts and gave us an 8.5 hour shift with fixed days off, which was extremely unpopular.
If anyone has any insight on why this is an advantage, I'd love to hear it. Also, anyone who has experienced this in their agency and found it to be worthless, I'd like to hear from you.
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