6 Things to Consider When Implementing CompSTAT

In modern policing, the CompSTAT process is an essential tool for departments to collect and analyze crime data and statistics so that police chiefs can gauge performance and effectiveness in real-time.  

The New York City Police Department initially implemented the CompSTAT process in the 1990s. Since then, it has become the standard reporting tool among police departments across the world. The key elements of the CompSTAT process have proven so useful that similar systems of evaluation have been implemented among other government agencies unrelated to law enforcement.  

With the evolution of technology, CompSTAT reporting can provide more insight than ever before. Implementing a system that provides access to real-time data can improve communication across departments, save money, improve community relations, and so much more. However, before implementing a new CompSTAT process, it’s important to understand how you want to use this tool to maximize its potential benefits to your department.  

There are several considerations to examine when implementing CompSTAT in your departments. Let’s look at six considerations when implementing CompSTAT, and how Civic Eye’s end-to-end public safety platform can improve your department’s efficiency and better serve your community.  

1. Access to Real-Time Data 

The CompSTAT process relies on real-time data, which is essential to solving problems promptly through informed decision-making. CompSTAT data is compiled from several governmental and municipal agencies sources into one reporting system. This allows department managers to better analyze a problem and identify which resources should be deployed to solve them. 

When departments first implement a new CompSTAT process, many existing computer systems cannot capture the type of data required for the new process. To get the most out of a new CompSTAT process, department leaders must make sure that not only are they implementing the new process properly, but that the systems are in place to record accurate data. Given the importance of data analysis in successful CompSTAT processes, this step is essential.  

Once the system is in place to collect accurate, reliable data on crime and other issues, it’s much easier for departments to analyze and create solutions that ultimately reduce crime. This approach provides a force multiplier for police departments and makes the communities they serve safer places to live.  

Officers can’t be everywhere that crime is happening, but with real-time data and the implementation of an effective CompSTAT process, it’s possible to more efficiently deploy officers so that they can be in the right place, at the right time to better serve their community.  

Access to Real-Time Data: Crime Mapping

Crime mapping is one way that agencies can achieve this. Users collect and aggregate data by location as crimes are reported. Once you can see where hotspots for crime and other incidents are happening, police chiefs can use predictive modeling. This allows police chiefs to determine the best locations to deploy their officers. As a result, officers can intervene and potentially prevent crimes before they are committed. It’s also possible to drill down the data to better understand times of day and other factors. This data helps departments identify how they can efficiently utilize their officers’ time and resources. 

With CivicEye’s mobile software, police officers can have information in real-time to inform decision-making, which contributes to a more effective and efficient response to emergencies. 

2. Easy to Understand Crime Trend Analytics 

When implementing a new CompSTAT system, one of the biggest benefits is that departments will have access to easy-to-understand crime trend analytics. Before CompSTAT, departments would respond to calls with limited information. However, with a CompSTAT process in place, information is constantly being collected, and with proper analysis, reveals trends in crime. By following trends, departments can also see if crime intervention tactics are successful by monitoring if crime rates go down after deploying a solution. Department chiefs can simply select a defined period and see if crime is reduced, remains the same, or is on the rise.  

Information gained through this analysis can also be used to involve the public and build trust between police departments and the community. CompSTAT data can be synthesized and shared with the community to help fight, prevent, and report crimes in their area. This can be an empowering tool that helps make communities safer and provides a force multiplier for police. 

The ability to analyze trends helps police departments think outside of the box when producing solutions to crime. This analysis allows police to consider what resources are available to deploy—both internally and externally.  

CivicEye’s software provides access to information that gives your officers and first responders an advantage. Through real-time dashboard capabilities and mapping, CivicEye makes accident reporting and handling easier for everyone on the response team. That includes both dispatch and those that arrive on the scene.  

3. One-Stop Shop Software System to Monitor Updates With CAD 

Computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems are often the first data collection tool once a crime is reported. Dispatchers, call-takers, and 911 operators use these systems. Users employ CAD to document and prioritize incoming incident calls, identify the locations of responders in the field, and efficiently dispatch first responders to the site.  

To reduce crime through the CompSTAT process, departments need a robust, consistently-updated CAD software system. This ensures that collected data is useful upon initial report and that it’s also documented in a streamlined manner. This makes the data easier for later-on analysis. This data is only useful when it is collected with the right tools. As a result, departments must invest in software systems that monitor updates with CAD regularly.  

CivicEye software enables your team to obtain information that enhances organizational processes. By streamlining administrative tasks, CAD systems help officers and response teams better respond to incidents and promote public safety. 

4. Increase Efficiency While Saving Money, Time & Resources 

While there are up-front costs associated with implementing a new CompSTAT system, the long-term savings and increased efficiency make it well worth the cost. By streamlining data reporting and collection into one system, departments can optimize their limited resources with one efficient collection tool. This also makes training among multiple departments easier by utilizing one comprehensive, easy-to-use system. This is a force multiplier that is beneficial to all agencies involved.  

Currently, many departments utilize various manual statistical analysis tools—including Microsoft Office products. This includes Excel, alongside other business analytics tools, such as PowerBI and Tableau. All of these are used to visualize and analyze crime data.  

To use Power BI with crime data, you will first need to import the data into Power BI. This can be done by connecting to a database or file containing the crime data. Once the data is imported, you can use Power BI’s visualization tools to create charts, graphs, and maps. These tools help to highlight patterns and trends in the data. Although, note that Power BI does have a learning curve. It may take some time for users to become proficient with the tool. Some users may find it helpful to work through tutorials or online courses to learn the basics of Power BI. 

CivicEye’s tools can help agencies of all sizes by lowering the total cost of reporting tools. This is all while enabling faster deployment to reported incidents in the field. Also, CivicEye’s analytical tools don’t require any data to be exported and reimported into an analytical tool. You can review real-time analytics the moment incident reports are created. This provides departments with security and increased efficiency, with less administrative overhead costs typically associated with IT services. 

5. Follow Up and Assessment 

While there is clear value to CompSTAT processes within police departments, there is also a fair amount of follow-up required to ensure its successful implementation. With an endless supply of new data daily, it can be difficult to narrow down which trends to follow and analyze. One way to make sure you are maximizing your data’s effectiveness? Meet with your team leaders to identify what trends you want to follow. 

From there, you can create systems that are tailored to the information you want to see. Then, you can continuously follow up and assess them. It’s also important to check in with your leadership team regularly to follow up on this data. After, your agency can make decisions about how to best act based on what the data is telling you.  

By employing CivicEye for your department’s CompSTAT data collection, you can easily track data and intervene quickly and effectively with your team.  

6. Leverage Community Support 

A good CompSTAT process has clear benefits regarding data analysis and collection, but it can also be a community-building tool. Police departments are facing increased scrutiny and communities are demanding more transparency from law enforcement. This being said, it has never been more important for departments to tell their story clearly and effectively. Openness and transparency will increasingly become an expectation from law enforcement agencies. Strong, reliable data can help achieve this important goal. 

Data collected through CivicEye’s suite of programs can help departments share crime data and use-of-force data, alongside mental and behavioral crisis response data in an easily shareable format. This makes complete transparency with your community simple and effective and builds trust between police and the community at large. This is yet another way that CivicEye can be a force multiplier for your department. 

Let CivicEye Improve Your CompSTAT Process 

As one of the industry leaders in public safety software, CivicEye’s end-to-end cloud-based system can help integrate your law enforcement team with dispatch, EMS, and fire personnel, making your community its safest version. 

CivicEye delivers modern, easy-to-use cloud software for communities and law enforcement that helps to save lives and increase security. Get in touch today for a free demo to see how your agency can reap the benefits of a top-notch CAD RMS system.