Crashes Plus Crime Equal Increased Police Presence

COURT HOUSE – A new concept in law enforcement involving technology that correlates areas of high traffic incidents to high crime areas is being used by Middle Township police to target an area long-known for its safety and crime issues. By using the new program, police hope to have an increased presence in certain areas to act as a deterrent as well as putting officers in the right place at the right time.
Police Chief Christopher Leusner presented DDACTS (Data-Driven Approached to Crime and Traffic Safety) to Township Committee during their Feb. 20 work session.
“DDACTS is an operational model that uses the integration of location-based crime and traffic data to establish effective and efficient methods for deploying law enforcement and other resources,” Leusner told Committee. The program has been in effect in the township since Jan. 1.
“Few police departments are engaging in this type of activity,” he said in his explanation of the new technology. “We knew we had to work smart, trying to figure out how we were going to provide services with limited resources.”
The chief explained police looked at crime mapping and data in their attempt to be highly effective with less officers.
“Our goal,” he said, “is to reduce the incidents of crime, crashes and traffic incidents in the community, in turn reducing social harm.”
Leusner noted when township police analyzed their crime and crash data they showed crimes often involved a motor vehicle.
Captain John Edwards told the Herald in 90 percent of cases, an overlay of traffic crashes and criminal offenses will be in the same area.
According to Joseph A. McMillan, President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, “If the data analysis reveals that criminal activity and traffic crashes occur at a specific place within a community, then it is at that place that law enforcement activities need to be focused.”
Leusner told Committee the only other police department in the area to be using DDACTS is Egg Harbor Township. Police Chief Michel Morris told Leusner the program was “one of the best things I’ve ever done,” referring to an area near Shore Mall dubbed “The Bermuda Triangle.”
In a township that spans 72 square miles, a one-half square mile area has been identified as being Middle Township’s hot spot – Rio Grande.
“A good portion of our activity is happening in that part of town,” said Leusner. “Our analysis shows that on Rte. 47 between the areas of the Off Shore Motel and Railroad Avenue and on Rte. 9 between the WalMart and Social Services is our hot spot. Over the past two years, 24 percent of all offenses reported to us happened in that half-mile square area.”
Leusner added 35 percent of traffic crashes happen in that Rio Grande area, with 800 to 1,000 accidents occurring in the past two years. “We’re seeing our crashes and our crime are overlapping.”
“We have more crashes in that area and that’s our hotel and business district,” said Edwards. “That’s where our crime is.”
On an annual basis, throughout the township police issue approximately 4,000 summonses per year and make between 5,000 to 6,000 car stops. Leusner said he hopes to redistribute a portion of traffic enforcement time. Patrols will now spend one-third of their traffic enforcement time in the targeted Rio Grande area.
Police patrols have been instructed to step their visibility in the hot spot area. “I want you to spend 20 minutes in that area conducting a car stop,” Leusner said he told patrols.” I want you to spend that time in that area. I want 200 cars to ride by and see the police are there doing something. I want business owners to walk out and see a police car engaging in some type of activity.”
With increased police visibility and enforcement police hope it will have a detrimental effect on crime and traffic incidents. Using the data provided by DDACTS, officers will be better utilized during the days and hours where elevations in crime and accidents are seen.
Leusner said while police will continue to enforce traffic laws throughout the township, police time is better spent in the area where most offenses occur.
“We made 573 car stops in that area in 2012,” Leusner said. “I want to see 2,000 car stops when I look at the data for the end of 2013,” the chief said. To date, since the onset of the new year, police have made 263 car stops.
Police officials have met with area business owners to let them know they will be seeing an increased police presence.
“It’s all about outcomes,” Leusner told Committee. “Our outcomes are we want to reduce crime and we want to reduce crashes.”
Leusner said higher police visibility will act as a stronger deterrent to criminals contemplating the commission of a crime.
“If someone living in a motel in Rio Grande is up to no good, the chances of a Middle Township police officer coming across their path is pretty significant because we’re spending more time there.”
Edwards said the effect of having an increased presence will have two effects – lowering crashes and lowering the amount of crime.
“I think there’s a third effect,” Edwards added. “Resident satisfaction for people who live in that area.”
With an increased police presence in the targeted area, residents throughout the township will not see a lesser police presence in other areas.
“We’re still maintaining the same responsibility in other areas of the township,” said Edwards. “Nothing is being taken away from other residents in the township.”
Programs such as Street of the Week will continue to be part of the department’s offering. “If anyone has complaints about traffic, suspicious activity or criminal activity they want to report, they can submit their street,” added the captain.
The increase in car stops should increase the numbers of warrant arrests and drug arrests.
“We’re going to take people off the street who we normally wouldn’t take off the street because we’re going to increase the likelihood that we’re going to come across them,” noted Leusner.
In addition to increased traffic enforcement, the one-half square mile area will see an increased presence of the department’s special services unit, quality of life unit and pedestrian details when data show the need for more aggressive details.
“It’s not just motor vehicle stops,” explained Edwards of the department’s focus in the Rio Grande area. “It’s a combination of things such as traffic enforcement, officers in the area doing directed patrols and street contact.”
Township police will monitor the efficacy of DDACTS throughout the year and change their approach, if necessary, according to data received.
Leusner showed results for Baltimore County in Maryland. By using DDACTS, motor vehicle stops went up by 49 percent with a reduction of 18 percent in burglaries; 29 percent in robberies; 35 percent in auto thefts; and 2.5 percent in crashes.
Mayor Daniel Lockwood said he was 100 percent behind technology initiatives that support officer efficiency as well as safety and helps to fight crime.
“This is great,” Lockwood said.The mayor noted the decrease in the number of police officers.
“We’re committed to try and get those numbers back up, working in the budget constraints that we have.”
“I’m excited about it,” said Leusner. “I do believe when I sit down and do the numbers we will have succeeded. We will have reduced crime in that area and we will have reduced crashes.”