Performance Measures Every Police Officer Should Know About

It’s widely understood that the job of the police is to protect citizens and combat crime. Performance measures are a way of ensuring efficiency, honest and productivity in police dealings. Since the police department is funded by taxpayers’ money, the state emphasizes having easy-to-track metrics to measure an officer’s performance.



Here are some metrics that have been used historically to trace a police officer’s effectiveness:

Historic performance measures

The state and the police department have always kept count of the number of arrests made by a police officer, reports they took and calls they responded to. This means that as a police officer, the tickets and warnings you give and the arrests you make receive particular attention.

The crime rate in an area has traditionally been a go-to metric to measure the productivity and effectiveness of a police department in the vicinity. However, factors outside of police control can also tremendously affect the crime rate.

What makes a good police officer?

According to many police departments, a good officer is one who responds to calls timely, engages in proactive enforcement activities and ensures high enforcement numbers. This means that an ideal police officer is one who is quick, honest, efficient and productive.

These are the ones who are often the top performers in any police department. However, it’s noteworthy that the quota system that outlines the numbers of arrests a police officer should make is almost non-existent. Therefore, you should keep in mind that police departments prioritize effectiveness as much as they consider productivity.



Social change forces cultural change in the police department

Social changes in the country, directly and indirectly, affect the police department’s culture. While easy-to-track metrics are crucial in ensuring productivity, citizens aren’t going to trust and admire you for the number of arrests you made or the tickets you gave.

Rather, the police officer that understands community-oriented policing dynamics is sure to win hearts. Building problem solving and soft skills can long a way in ensuring a safe and protected environment for your community. These skills can also enhance your day-to-day performance and make it easier for you to get work done efficiently.

Prepare to join the ranks

Joining the NYC police department is a dream come true for many. Being one of the most reputable police services in the world, the NYC police department offers impressive personal and professional growth opportunities for young aspirants.

If you’re looking for a guide to help you prepare for the Suffolk police exam, reach out to Civil Service Success. They offer extensive preparation classes for NYC civil exams in New York

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