Vintage

Chief Kevin Murphy speaks to the Montgomery Civitan Club about CompStat.

Chief Kevin Murphy spoke with the Montgomery Civitan Club about the implementation, in December of 2010, of a new program for the Montgomery Police Department called CompStat.  CompStat, which stands for Computer Statistics or Comparative Statistics, is defined as a multilayered dynamic approach to crime reduction, quality of life improvement, and personnel and resource management. CompStat employs Geographic Information Systems and was intended to map crime and identify problems.

Chief Murphy said that prior to the implementation of CompStat in Montgomery the city was using a weekly crime bulletin that was nine pages long. It contained two pages of data and seven pages of city wide maps and was the primary tool that Montgomery law enforcement officers used to analyze crime data in the city as a whole and plan and implement enforcement tactics. Under this old system the amount of data that went into the report overwhelmed the ability of the computer system to display or track it.

The first weekly CompStat system report had ninety-one pages of data instead of the old system's two pages and thirty-one precinct and district maps instead of the old system's seven pages of city wide maps. This additional data allowed for a more detailed view of where and when different types of crimes were being committed and allowed for targeted enforcement to combat the problems.

The system allows law enforcement officials to see in a graphical manner where each crime is taking place and gives enough information about each one, such as the time and place, for them to determine trends and allocate resources to combat them. One example that Chief Murphy cited was data that showed thirteen automobile break-ins in a single week in a certain area, all taking place at night.  Targeted enforcement reduced the number of those break-ins to zero the next week.  Another example was in the Carriage Hills area where 20 crimes were committed in the area in one week and within three weeks that was reduced to only three crimes, an 80% decrease.

While all areas will continue to have patrols, this system allows for a more targeted use of personnel and resources to combat crime. Data driven enforcement has worked in cities such as New York, where it originated, as well as Memphis, Mobile, and Los Angeles and is now working in Montgomery.  The Montgomery Police Department, with this program, continues its commitment to protect and serve the citizens of Montgomery.