4.180 Community Policing Problem-Solving and the SARA Method

Question 1

What is the departments policy in regards to Community Policing?

Answer 1

It is the policy of this department to address both crime and quality of life problem-solving issues through community policing. As an integral part of the department’s community policing initiatives, Community Oriented Policing (COP) officer and crime prevention specialists are assigned to area commands to formulate strategies and promote the use of traditional and non-traditional resources in problem-solving efforts.

Question 2

What is SARA?

Answer 2

A nationally recognized model developed to implement and facilitate the problem-solving process consisting of four steps:

1. Scanning
2. Analysis
3. Response
4. Assessment

Question 3

Procedure for SARA reporting - Officer (Patrol/Traffic/Detectives) will

Answer 3

1. Initiates actions to solve problems requiring time and resources not normally available to officers responding to dispatched calls for service. Such problems may be crime or quality of life problems that are:
   a. Identified by an officer,
   b. Reported to a police officer by a citizen, or
   c. Submitted by a citizen on a LVMPD 132, Service Request Form.
2. Begins the SARA problem-solving process by completing an LVMPD 241 (automated), Community Policing Service Request, and forwarding it to the appropriate area command COP office.
3. Defines problems and documents pertinent information on the LVMPD 239 (automated), Project Worksheet Long Form. For small problems or ongoing problems requiring spot checks, uses the LVMPD 240 (automated).
4. Coordinates with the appropriate COP officers to analyze problems and to determine responses.
5. Addresses problems with planned, systematic responses. Ideally responses will accomplish one of the following:
   a. eliminate the problem
   b. reduce the number of incidents it creates
   c. reduce the seriousness of incidents it creates
   d. design methods for a better handling of the incident
   e. remove the problem from police consideration
6. Makes assessments to determine the effectiveness of responses and if follow-up is necessary.
7. Forwards copies of the LVMPD 239, 240, and 241 to the appropriate COP office.

Question 4

COP Officers will:

Answer 4

1. Assists other departmental units in the scanning, analysis, response, and assessment steps.
2. Contacts individuals and agencies outside the department, such as elected officials, code enforcement officers, housing authorities, and public utilities to assist in problem-solving efforts when appropriate.
3. Maintains the LVMPD 242 (automated), Problem Scanning Monitoring Log, to identify all problem-solving efforts, as well as for the purpose of recognizing recurring problems.
4. Attends periodic meetings with COP officers, crime prevention specialists, and other department
   members to discuss common problems and to refine problem-solving strategies.

Question 5

Ideally responses will accomplish one of the following:

Answer 5

a. eliminate the problem
b. reduce the number of incidents it creates
c. reduce the seriousness of incidents it creates
d. design methods for a better handling of the incident
e. remove the problem from police consideration

Question 6

SARA is completed on what form

Answer 6

241

Question 7

___________ and ___________________ are assigned to area commands to
formulate strategies and promote the use of traditional and non-traditional resources in problem-solving efforts.

Answer 7

Community Oriented Policing (COP) officers and crime prevention specialists

Question 8

Initiates actions to solve problems requiring time and resources not normally available to officers responding to dispatched calls for service. Such problems may be crime or quality of life problems that are:

Answer 8

a. Identified by an officer,
b. Reported to a police officer by a citizen, or
c. Submitted by a citizen on a LVMPD 132, Service Request Form.

Question 9

Area Command Crime Prevention Specialists will:

Answer 9

Assists COP officers with strategies to prevent the recurrence of problems

Question 10

The optimal results of the SARA method are the successful formulation of
strategic plans that utilize necessary ________ and ___________ resources in the most efficient and effective manner.

Answer 10

internal and external

Question 11

Traditional law enforcement has been largely a _________ process with its primary focus on ____________response rather than the solution to, or prevention of, underlying problems.

Answer 11

reactive, emergency

Question 12

A proactive approach to solve seemingly ______________, which at first may not appear to be police-related, will often negate the need for calls for service that drain personnel resources.

Answer 12

small problems

Question 13

Members of the department are trained to deal with problems through a ________ approach using the SARA problem-solving model.

Answer 13

systematic team