Smart Policing Lowell Police Department Reorganization Research Study

The Smart Policing Initiative seeks to build upon the concepts of offender-based and place-based policing and broaden the knowledge of effective policing strategies. The most convincing research demonstrates that place-based or hotspot policing reduces violent crime and neighborhood disorder. This initiative addresses the need for effective policing that requires a tightly focused, collaborative approach that is measurable, based on sound, detailed analysis and includes policies and procedures for accountability. This grant program seeks to build upon data-driven, evidence-based policing by encouraging state and local law enforcement agencies to develop effective, economical, and innovative responses to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime within their jurisdictions.

The Lowell Police Department (LPD) will utilize Smart Policing Initiative grant funds, in partnership with a research partner, to assess the impact of the implementation of the LPD reorganization plan. The intended impact of the reorganization is to decrease crime, increase communication between patrol officers and the Crime Analysis and Intelligence Unit, and reinvigorate community policing and institutionalizing problem-oriented policing. The LPD reviewed several research studies and obtained input from members of LPD command staff to develop the reorganization plan. While these studies greatly assisted the department to develop a comprehensive reorganization plan that includes evidence-based policing strategies, the three cities studied (Jacksonville, Philadelphia and Los Angeles) are all significantly larger than the City of Lowell. It is unknown if a mid-sized city can obtain the same results that the larger cities were able to realize.

The researcher, with assistance from the LPD, will conduct a process and outcome evaluation to determine whether the reorganization was effective and share the results with other interested mid-sized cities. The process evaluation will focus on implementation. This includes how officers engage community members, what officers and supervisors are experiencing in implementing evidence-based practices, and if and how policy and practice change to affect outcomes of interest. The process evaluation data will be collected through observations, focus groups, ride-alongs and review of official documents, and changes memorialized within the LPD. The research team will disseminate at least one research paper and a tool kit guide for other jurisdictions on the findings and lessons learned. The outcome evaluation will assess the impact of the reorganization on property crimes and disorder in high crime areas of the City of Lowell. The research team will also administer a survey to residents and business owners before and after the organizational change has occurred. The surveys will assess fear, victimization, and interactions with the police. The research team will also collect and analyze physical and social disorder data in concentrated crime areas. NCA/NCF