Evaluating police department policy decisions using a simulation model of sworn officer deployment

In this paper we describe a simulation model built to study police manpower planning and scheduling at the strategic level. The model was designed to analyse current officer shift scheduling and to report average response time for different classes of calls and utilisation of patrol officers. Since the model produces officer utilisation, it could be used as a planning tool supporting shift scheduling, budgeting for new officers and supporting community policing efforts. We describe construction, verification and validation and the parameters for the model. We present results from a baseline study and we show how our model could be used to support several policy decisions about officer utilisation and deployment.