2006 to 2010. Intelligent positioning of resources has been a major factor in the decline, helping to deter criminal activity by having more officers patrolling the right area at the right time on the right day
More intelligent deployments also lead to faster reaction time, since officers are likely to be better positioned to respond to an unfolding crime. In addition, MPD’s organized crime units are using data from the predictive analytics solution to run special details that lead to successful multi-agency drug busts and other criminal roundups. Not surprisingly, arrest rates have been steadily improving across the Memphis area, which has a population of 680,000.
Today, the MPD is continuing to explore new ways to exploit statistical analysis in its crime-fighting mission. Of course, predictive analytics and data mining is just one part of MPD’s overall strategy for keeping Memphis residents safe. Effective liaisons with community groups and businesses, strong partnerships with regional and federal law enforcement agencies, and intelligent organizational and operational structures all play a part in continuing MPD’s success story. “At the end of the day, everybody wants to reduce crime,” says Godwin. “Everybody wants a safe community because without it, you don’t have economic growth, you don’t have anything.”
1. How did the Memphis Police Department used data mining to better combat crime?
2. What were the challenges, the proposed solution, and the obtained results?