Variation in officer downtime: a review of the research

Abstract

PurposeTo summarize and compare both the methodology and findings of existing studies of patrol officer workload that have contributed to what is known about “downtime” (time not responding to citizen calls for service), and provide more standardized estimates of downtime for comparison purposes.Design/methodology/approachA total of 11 studies of police workload published between 1970 and 2001 that used data collected through either dispatch records or systematic social observations of police officers, and reported information regarding the amount and use of patrol officer downtime, are summarized and compared. The studies report information for 13 different (US) police departments and averages for the 24 departments studied in the Police Services Study (1977). A consistent measure of downtime is estimated for each study.FindingsA consistent measure of downtime estimated for each study yields more similar results across studies than the originally reported findings suggest. For the studies that used data collected through dispatch records, the average amount of downtime is 70 percent of a patrol officer's shift, for the studies that used systematic social observation data 79 percent. Observations regarding the methodologies and contributions of workload studies are discussed.Research limitations/implicationsSuggested changes in the reporting of future workload study findings would provide more accurate information and facilitate comparisons across studies, benefiting both researchers and police administrators.Practical implicationsThese findings suggest patrol officers always have had, and continue to have, a lot of downtime available for restructuring.Originality/valueCompiles, organizes, and compares information regarding what is known about the amount and use of patrol officer downtime, and suggests researchers and administrators consider approaching the study and use of downtime in new ways.

Leading by Example

“…Fifth, the present study joins prior studies (Famega, 2005;Famega et al, 2005;Johnson, 2008;Moskos, 2008;Smith et al, 2001), suggesting that officer free patrol time is being underutilized in many law enforcement agencies today. This is time that could be better spent on officer-initiated activities that have shown some success in reducing crime and improving public safety, such as directed patrols at hot spot locations, proactive stops looking for guns, proactive stops looking for drunk drivers, and stops and surveillance on known repeat offenders (Skogan & Frydl, 2004).…”

“…The prior research, however, has suggested that few patrol officers utilize this free patrol time to engage in proactive policing activities (Famega, 2005;Moskos, 2008;Smith, Frank, & Novak, 2001), and that patrol officers are rarely given clear or specific directions about how to use this free patrol time Johnson, 2010).…”

Police Discretion and Boredom

“…Early research by Cumming, Cumming, and Edell (1985, 219) indicated that few calls for service are "law enforcement" related; most calls require police officers "to exercise their amateur talents." These findings have been consistently supported by other scholars (Famega 2005;Frank, Brandl, and Watkins 1997).…”

“…Thus, "the symbolism of the aggressive crime fighter" (Herbert 2001, 66) provides policing with a salient social reality discussed by Barbalet (1999). The reality of policing, however, is that the opportunity to deal with exciting events or serious crime is rare (Cumming, Cumming, and Edell 1985;Famega 2005;Frank, Brandl, and Watkins 1997). Research in the UK from three and four decades ago suggested that the opportunity to engage in real police work is denied to officers (Cain 1973), and the actual work of patrol officers -patrolling or driving around with no particular goal -is considered a waste of time (Holdaway 1983).…”

The Effect of Various Police Enforcement Actions on Violent Crime: Evidence From a Saturation Foot-Patrol Intervention

“…In addition, street-level actions enacted by police officers can exhibit a great deal of variability even within single interventions. Police officer actions are not situationally dictated, as research suggests as much as 37% to 86% of a patrol officer's shift comprises "uncommitted time" not spent on responding to calls for service, making arrests, or engaging in other administrative duties (Famega, 2005). Hence, officers enjoy a great deal of latitude when choosing how to address incidents of concern, with a number of appropriate enforcement decisions available in most instances (Schafer, Carter, Katz-Bannister, & Wells, 2006).…”