CPD releases preliminary findings of staffing study

On Monday, the Columbia Police Department released the preliminary findings of a staffing study.

Matrix Consulting Group has been studying the efficiency of CPD’s patrol and some of the findings show inefficiency in the department.

Preliminary results show the patrol beat structure is effective, but with the current call volume, the two officer patrols are not as effective.

CPD went back to one officer per patrol car last week.

The report says the the two officer units “brought about a number of largely adverse effects on service levels provided in the field.”

It goes on to say call holding queues were up to 30 on some days, particularly in the afternoon and early evening hours.

Matrix findings show that with the two officer patrols, the department can only reach a proactivity level of about 24.3 percent.

It says “to achieve an overall proactivity level of 40 percent while mainly deploying two-person patrol cars, the department would need to add 26 additional patrol officer positions…”

CPD says the following changes will go into effect by February 28:

1. The Patrol unit will remain on 12 hour shifts.

2. The same patrol unit will rotation will be kept, and a “power shift” will work 10 hour shifts Wednesday through Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

3. Shift changes will be pushed forward by two hours.

4. The Downtown Unit will report to Patrol Division supervisors.

5. Specific officers on each shift will be assigned to handle traffic incidents. They will still respond to service calls when needed.

CPD says these findings are preliminary and the department will continue to work with Matrix on analysis for workloads and other staffing needs.

Read the full report here.