Citizens v. Police: the numbers

[decuervo]

I did a little calculating and was curious if this is a normal equation of police to citizens.
We have 165 (approx) police (not counting sheriff dept, university police, or MP's), there are 93,000 citizens living in the city limits (not counting the AirForce Base) on a 55 mile city grid. This averages to be 1 officer per 563 citizens and 1 officer per .333 miles of city space. Is that normal? It seems a little low, but I'll be the first to admit I don't know anything about it.
Also, anyone know what percentage of citizens are troublemakers versus the general population? I know it varies from place to place, but I'm just looking for a national average. (I have a lot of free time now) :rolleyes:

[JR_23]

1 for every 2,000?...I know that number has been tossed around when talking about it.

[spitfire]

That's high to me. We are REALLY understaffed right now and have something like 1 officer per 3,000 citizens.

I think 1 officer per thousand is a pretty good ratio.

[decuervo]

Shows what I know huh?
1:3000, wow!

[valycop]

This is how Virginia's compensation board looks at the equation as far as Sheriff's Offices.




§ 15.2-1609.1. Number of deputies.

Except as provided in § 15.2-1603, the respective number of full-time deputies appointed by the sheriff of a county or city shall be fixed by the Compensation Board after receiving such recommendation of the board of supervisors of the county or the council of the city, as the case may be, as the board of supervisors or city council may desire to make. Such recommendation, if any, shall be made to the Compensation Board on or before April 1 of each year. In any county without a police force, upon the request of the board of supervisors of such county, the number of such law-enforcement deputies shall be fixed at not less than one such deputy for each 1,500 population in such county excluding the population served by state educational institution police departments if the sheriff's department does not provide the majority of the law-enforcement activities to such population according to uniform crime reports compiled by the Department of State Police. The Compensation Board shall also consider any agreement the sheriff may have pursuant to § 15.2-1726 and any obligation he may have pursuant to this section to provide law enforcement for towns in fixing the number of deputies. The governing body of any county or city may employ a greater number of law-enforcement deputies than fixed by the Compensation Board, provided that the county or city shall pay the total compensation and all employer costs for such additional deputies.

[spitfire]

Shows what I know huh?
1:3000, wow!

Well, like I said, we are seriously understaffed as are a lot of neighboring departments as well. It won't always be like this, ratio wise. Supposedly, we are going to be experiencing a huge growth in manpower over the next 3 years.

[Strijder]

The local sheriff runs around 2500 citizens per officer, or 1 officer per 11 sq miles. Figure in the shifts, and you end up with 1 officer per 100 sq miles, in a long, broad ring around the city. Bit lonely out there.

[Odin]

Well, like I said, we are seriously understaffed as are a lot of neighboring departments as well. It won't always be like this, ratio wise. Supposedly, we are going to be experiencing a huge growth in manpower over the next 3 years.

You're a Houston officer, right? I wouldn't hold my breath for that.

Dallas has been talking about increasing staffing forever. By the time the city procures the funds they either spend it on something else or screw it up. Also, the attrition and turnover rate in Dallas means that more officers are retiring or leaving for other departments than they can hire, so they take 1 step forward and two steps back.

It seems like the major cities (at least around here) can't seem to get their act together enough to (1) fund and (2) hire/train the officers they need. By the time they meet the 2000 goals it will be 2010 and those staffing levels will be inadequate again. It's a neverending cycle.

[txinvestigator1]

You're a Houston officer, right? I wouldn't hold my breath for that.

She is not.

[decuervo]

So 1:563 is a pretty good ratio from what ya'll are saying? (Backup response times and all)
Will this ratio affect the probability of OT? I'd rather have backup than money :D

[Valor55]

When I worked in Fairfax County VA we had a ratio of 1:10,000. Just over 1,000 officers for a million residents. My current agency is 1:400. Not bad. Funny thing is I am a lot busier here.

[Odin]

She is not.

My bad. I saw Houston in the location and guessed that she worked for HPD.

[retdetsgt]

So 1:563 is a pretty good ratio from what ya'll are saying? (Backup response times and all)
Will this ratio affect the probability of OT? I'd rather have backup than money :D

That's about ours, but you have to understand that this includes supervisors, command, investigators and drones. It's not always reflective of the number of people out there answering calls.

[ngcsubutterbar]

That's about ours, but you have to understand that this includes supervisors, command, investigators and drones. It's not always reflective of the number of people out there answering calls.

that's a good point.

[decuervo]

That's about ours, but you have to understand that this includes supervisors, command, investigators and drones. It's not always reflective of the number of people out there answering calls.

I didn't even think of that. About how many officers would actually be on the street per shift in a department your size?