| Even though the crime rates have been steadily | | | | expediently. It is effective because it reduces the |
| falling from the 1990's, some of the bigger cities | | | | chances of spending time and energy on low |
| across the nation have to still contend with a | | | | priority calls. Moreover, they can focus their |
| growing crime rate. While the government officials | | | | resources to handle ongoing crimes quickly and |
| are doing their best, crime related problems | | | | effectively. These strategies are all part of the |
| continue to persist due to the ever-growing | | | | new CODEFOR plan. |
| population in these urban centers. So fighting | | | | CODEFOR stands for Computer Optimized |
| crime is a battle that must be waged continuously | | | | Deployment-Focus on Results. All sections of the |
| day after day by law enforcement agencies | | | | police force are involved in this new crime |
| against elements of anarchy and social unrest. | | | | reduction initiative and it involves four basic ideas: |
| Minneapolis is located in Minnesota and has a | | | | 1. accurate and timely intelligence on crime that is |
| population hovering just under 400,000. The | | | | occurring 2. rapid deployment of personnel and |
| emergency services in this major American city | | | | resources in appropriate circumstances 3. |
| almost never stop fielding calls and requests for | | | | effective tactics and 4. relentless follow-up and |
| aid. On any given day, over 1,000 calls are | | | | assessment. |
| received and processed for emergency services | | | | In another Minneapolis initiative, a voluntary |
| from the police, fire, or EMT departments. | | | | program called "Watch Your Car", the participating |
| Budget constraints and the sheer volume of calls | | | | citizens give a declaration to the police that their |
| make it impossible to respond immediately to all | | | | car is normally not used between 1 am and 5 am |
| such emergency calls. Hence the local | | | | and therefore give the police permission to pull |
| administration officials are forced to impose a | | | | their car over if and when seen on the roads |
| prioritization of all such emergency calls. Highest | | | | during this period. |
| priority is given to all those calls dealing with life | | | | Reflective stickers are provided to the |
| threatening situations. Subsequent priority is | | | | participants to be pasted on the vehicles. The |
| allotted to calls based on their severity level in a | | | | police identify the vehicles by these stickers and |
| manner to ensure the best possible service within | | | | have the right to pull over the vehicle even if no |
| the given constraints. | | | | crime has been witnessed. Thus far, the citizens |
| It takes about an hour to assess the nature of | | | | are finding this radical program effective and the |
| the call and dispatch a cop during the busiest of | | | | results of this program seem to please all sides. |
| times. Each incoming call is assessed and put into | | | | However, it is presumptuous to consider a crime |
| low priority only if (i) there is no immediate threat | | | | fighting initiative will be 100% effective. But, the |
| to life, (ii) the caller has no injuries, (iii) the caller is | | | | Minneapolis police department is certainly trying its |
| not a victim of ongoing criminal action, and (iv) the | | | | best to make the community as safe as possible |
| offender is not an immediate threat and is not | | | | for its citizens. It is a great incentive for people |
| expected to return. | | | | considering relocating to Minneapolis as the |
| Minneapolis devised this method of prioritization of | | | | community is committed to fighting crime to |
| incoming calls in order to handle crime more | | | | make the city safe to live. |