Understanding how crime occurs is vital to reducing victimization. Criminologist tells us there are three critical drivers of crime:
- Crime is opportunistic. Opportunity
- Criminals are rational. Rational Choice
- Crime occurs in patterns. Routine Activity
The police look to research such as Situational Crime Prevention, Leveraged Deterrence, and Problem Oriented Policing to determine the most appropriate method for crime control in any given situation. Police tactics can vary, from rigorous enforcement to increased education; from environmental design to focused deterrence, but any response should be based on a careful analysis of the crime patterns. Analyzing data is something SCPD must do better. To accomplish this objective, we will soon hire a crime analyst.
Police often use the crime triangle to describe their thought process to understand crime. Effective crime abatement takes place when one or more sides of the triangle are addressed. Police have a tendency to focus on only one side of the triangle, depriving ourselves of the best opportunity to reduce crime. Through Neighborhood Policing, SCPD lieutenants implement strategies to reduce crime and control blight. Reducing the level of crime is a long road, but it took decades to get here, and together, the police and community stakeholders, we can make progress and improve community safety.
This blog will keep police and citizens updated on efforts by our police officers, community service officers, and rangers to fix these long-term problems in a data-driven, a thoughtful and effective manner that upholds the constitutional rights of all.
Andrew Mills - Chief of Police - Palm Springs 
Chief Mills , Thanks for the new post on our Neighborhood Policing. I have a question you mentioned hiring a C.A. To target hot spots for crime in our community, I thought we had a program in place for a data base to give us an updated overview when crimes where reported. What will that person do differently to curtail crime in our area? I would like to in the coming year film a half hour interview With an update on this program. Best, Joyce Anderson Sent from my iPad
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Hey Joyce, seeing crime in a “hot spot” is much different than understanding why its there. The C/A is responsible for breaking down the why portion and working to guide officers in eliminating it.
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