LPS says CompStat system aids in crime reduction efficiency

By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 16, 2024.

The Lethbridge Police Service says they are implementing a data analysis system to better manage prolific offenders and more effectively deploy resources to problem areas to reduce crime.
Using the CompStat system allows LPS to access analytics data in a model that identifies high-crime areas and prolific offenders which is said to be, ‘the most effective deployment of police resources,’ said deputy chief Gerald Grobmeier.
“CompStat focuses on four core components, timely and accurate information or intelligence, the rapid deployment of resources, effective tactics and relentless follow up…We’ve been fully using an involving the local CompStat model for almost a year with the goal of providing the right information to the right people at the right time in place in order to support database solutions,” said Grobmeier.
He said CompStat was developed and has been successfully used by the New York Police Department in 1990s. He added it has been used in agencies across the world such as UK, the United States and in Canada.
“The moment the person calls dispatch. The information is shared service wide using an intelligence portal. And each month there’s a cross organizational meeting that includes external representation from parole probation, and we have a close relationship with Crown’s office as well.
Various units and officers are then inside to locate one subjects and force conditions for individuals in the community released on bail or bound by conditional settings in settings quarters developing enforcement and deployment strategies to address locations and addresses with a disproportionate volume of calls for service,” shared Grobmeier.
He says community safety is one of the focuses of the LPS four-year strategic plan and the use of CompStat is the initiative within the 2024, policing annual plan to help reduce crime.
“In each crime category crimes against persons, crimes against property, and drugs, the top type five most prolific offenders are identified. Individuals are ranked based on three months of data, but analytics are used for the last three years to identify any broader trends,” he said.
Grobmeier expressed part of the efforts with prolific offenders is to use CompStat in identifying prolific offenders with outstanding warrants and sharing the offender’s identity with the pubic on LPS social media to gain public assistance in apprehending offenders.
“We’re also encouraging the community to report crimes whenever they occur. So, incidents are recorded. We have the most complete picture of crime in our community and leverage that information to develop enforcement and development strategies,” said Grobmeier.
He voiced the efforts officers make to target and locate offenders that have outstanding warrants, along with conduct regular conditions checks. He added one per cent of offenders in Lethbridge account for over eight per cent of overall crime.
“Enforcing conditions and laying charges when appropriate, is critical to our Offender Management Strategy and efforts to reduce crime.”
Grobmeier said the impact CompStat can have in crime reduction comes with assisting LPS with the data collecting of troubled areas and individuals within Lethbridge.
“By targeting those hotspot areas or problem areas, dealing with that small group. They’re doing most of the crime, we’re hoping that through that effort, and it’s been shown across Canada and across the United States that can have an effect on the crime rate within the within the city,” said Grobmeier.

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