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"It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage, than the creation of a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institutions and merely lukewarm defenders in those who would gain by the new ones." Machiavelli
Policing by the numbersBy TerryONeillEsq, Section Diaries
Albany Alderman Dominick Calsolaro is championing a new approach to improving law enforcement service in Albany. His proposal is reported in this week's Metroland http://www.metroland.net/newsfront.html#1
Calsolaro wants prompt publication of real-time crime statistics on the Albany Police Department website. Around the nation, police do indeed use statistical information like this to deploy resources quite effectively. A good example is the much-imitated COMPSTAT program adopted by the New York City Police Department during the Giuliani administration. Publishing real-time, neighborhood-specific crime statistics would create another level of police accountability and promote fair and rational deployment of law enforcement resources and service. Imagine that you are interested in buying a home, renting an apartment or locating a business in a particular neighborhood. Wouldn't your decision be influenced by knowing whether it is a high or low crime area? And wouldn't the city's econonomic development planning have to take this into account? And wouldn't the Mayor have to show that he was assigning priority on the basis of need? This is the classic no-brainer. And there is no excuse for the police department not go along with it ASAP.
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All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 2005 The Management