Alexandria Police Dept Intelligence Unit Proposal - Report Example

Alexandria Police Dept Intelligence Unit Proposal Securing an international accreditation by the commission on accreditation for law enforcement agencies, Alexandria police department has maintaining good professional status. Starts from 2004, the department is decentralizing its operations, and the process contributed to a decline in the effectiveness of communication among various investigative, operational, and administrative units. Alexandria has experienced a substantial decline in overall crime during the period 1970-2010, but has witnessed a significant increase in scams and white collar crimes. To cope with these new types of crimes, setting up an intelligence unit is an ideal plan which enhances the quality of sharing of crime related intelligence which in turn improves the police department’s capacity for protecting public safety. At the same time serial crimes and organized crime groups can be detected more quickly and more cases can be solved. Programs like community relations and robbery awareness could be carried out which helps to improve public trust and confidence, which in turn strengthen the information management system. By decentralizing the model and establishing a coordinating council, process of intelligence work could be made more effective and reliable.  Introduction Alexandria has maintaining highly skilled, energetic, technically oriented, well-equipped police department and serving the people better. It has the strength of 320 officers and 138 administrative workers. Since 1986, the Alexandria police department has been internationally accredited by the commission on accreditation for law enforcement agencies (CALEA) which is a rigorous and difficult process, and has been reaccredited in subsequent years. By achieving this it has the professional status of law enforcement agencies worldwide, and now has a responsibility of maintaining this status (Police Department, 2011). The department has provided searchable online crime data through the citys online crime search engine, and citizens can view it using an online Geographic Information System (GIS). Adding, the departments model mainly relies on the usage of advanced technology. Starts from 2004, the Alexandria police department is in the process of decentralizing its operations, and is now operating in three locations. One is at headquarter building at 2003 Mill road, and the other two is in 2034 and 2900 Eisenhower Avenue. Decentralization of police function contributed to a decline in the effectiveness of communication among various investigative, operational, and administrative units. Information regarding new and emerging crime trends, patterns and neighborhood issues was often fragmented, which in turn fails to unite the departments resources and focus towards proactive and problem solving solutions. Joint efforts among all these units were also far more difficult to organize and manage (Police Department, 2011). More have to be done to improve communication and teamwork at all levels while increasing accountability and measure results on a regular basis. Increased communication among various operational and investigative units, teamwork, active participation, and accountability for results are to be the guiding principles of the departments process.   Crime trend in Alexandria Alexandria is the seventh largest and one of the highest income independent cities in Virginia. New town is largely populated by professionals those who are working with the federal civil service, or for one of the many private companies. On the other hand, the old town with its concentration of boutiques, restaurants, antique shops and theaters, is a major attraction for tourists. Alexandria has experienced a substantial decline in overall crime during the period 1970-2010, but has witnessed a significant increase in scams and white collar crimes such as credit card fraud, worthless check cases, and larcenies of GPS units from vehicles, thefts of dodge caravans, IPods stolen, and phishing phone calls (Brian Block, 2007). Over the last 25 years, violent crimes such as homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies has been declining in the city, at the same time the number of crimes per 1,000 people has also been declining. But rape cases have increased, and the street violence is overrepresented in the Hispanic community. Alexandria had crime levels under the national average, however, the city ranked above the national average on rape, robbery, motor vehicle theft, property crime, and larceny. Moreover, September 11 attacks highlight the urgency in improving the capacity for protective service agencies to share terrorism relevant intelligence data (City-Data.com, 2010). Fig.1. Crime in Alexandria by year, crime index per 1, 00,000 populations. Source: City-Data.com. Importance of Intelligence unit To cope with all these crimes, intelligence unit need to be established. A better sharing of crime related intelligence could significantly improve police department’s capacity to protect public safety. The criminal intelligence function is an effective tool for deterring, preventing, and protecting the public from serious crimes. Police need quality information in order to take good decisions in the way of reduction and prevention of crime. Information roughly placed related to crime could not serve the purpose properly, instead it has to be combined, filtered, synthesized, and placed into context with other information, so that the decision makers would get sufficient picture of the criminal environment. In case of financial crimes police department used typically strategic, tactical, or operational approach, and each requires that information be collected, synthesized, and analyzed into an usable format. Information received from the intelligence unit is typically confidential and is perceived to be of greater value due to its sensitive nature (Jerry Ratcliffe, 2007). Compared to this, information getting from crime analysis is considered to be less sensitive. Up course, both are essential to law enforcement operations, but their importance is considered based on its ability to provide greater analytical and investigative support. Reports submitted by the intelligence forces generally analyze the criminal relationships by linking criminal organizations or events to determine who is doing what with whom. This type of analysis helps to find out the organized crimes such as narcotics smuggling, terrorism, money laundering, gangs, and auto theft rings. Decentralization model of intelligence unit is better as agility, resilience; equalities are the characteristics of decentralized structures. It promotes innovation and rapid adoption of new technologies. Moreover the police department is already in the process of decentralization. So decentralization model in intelligence would unite with the police departments’ work. Decentralized units can be established in five different directions like north, south, east, and west, while one at the central place. Intelligence sharing could not be success without trust between the parties sharing information. So, in the way, establishing a coordinating council could increase communication, strengthen relationships and helps to build trust between agencies and individuals in the intelligence network. This council could provide an ongoing solution to the identified need for a nationally coordinated, but locally driven, criminal intelligence generation and sharing process for the promotion of public safety (Criminal Intelligence Sharing, 2002). Programs like community relations unit, robbery awareness, and home security survey would helps to improve the relations with common people, and in turn help to gather information about crime related intelligence. Along with this, improving technology is also necessary. Technology up gradation offers an opportunity for improved security as it can facilitate the exchange of intelligence data. As technology up gradation process is costly, arrangements have to be made for funds (Jerry Ratcliffe, 2007). Conclusion In the process of decision making with respect to crime prevention, suppression, and deployment strategies, police are rely heavily on the information provided by the crime as well as intelligence units. Better coordination between these two analytical units can enhance the quality of the service, and at the same time strengthens the information management system. Intelligence report is the combination of credible information with quality analysis, and by setting up intelligence unit serial crimes and organized crime groups can be detected more quickly and more cases can be solved.  Reference Alexandria.GOV (2011). Police Department. Retrieved February 2, 2011 from http://alexandriava.gov/police/default.aspx Brian Block, ESq (2007). Alexandria, Virginia Becoming a Safer Place to Live: Crime rate at 40 years low in Alexandria. Retrieved February 3, 2011 from http://blog.brianblock.com/public/blog/170197 City-Data.com (2010). Crime in Alexandria, Virginia (VA): Murders, Rapes, Robberies, Assaults, Burglaries, Thefts, Auto thefts, Arson, Law Enforcement Employees, Police officers. Retrieved February 3, 2011 from http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Alexandria-Virginia.html Criminal Intelligence Sharing (2002). A National Plan for Intelligence-Led Policing at the Local, State and Federal Levels: Recommendations from the IACP Intelligence Summit. Retrieved February 1, 2011 from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/RIC/Publications/criminalintelligencesharing.txt HELLOALEXANDRIA.COM (2010). Alexandria Crime Information: Alexandria Crime Reports, News, and Statistics. Retrieved February 2, 2011 from http://www.helloalexandria.com/crime.cfm Jerry H. Ratcliffe (2007). Integrated Intelligence and Crime Analysis: Enhanced Information Management for Law Enforcement Leaders. Retrieved February 3, 2011 from http://www.policefoundation.org/pdf/integratedanalysis.pdf Read More