“CompStat is one of the most innovative, deceptively simple and economical means to control crime and enhance public safety.” It provides a genuine strategic direction and is used to combat crime, fear and disorder.
Sheriff Cameron cites “focusing on a specific crime problem within a defined geographic area provides for the best results”. CompStat assigns ownership of a geographic region and the lines of accountability are clear. CompStat uses crime data and regular meetings of key enforcement personnel to watch weekly crime trends.
Sheriff Cameron quickly acknowledges CompStat is not his original idea and is proud to cite its history. The notoriety of CompStat began is 1990 when William Bratton became the Chief of the New York Transit Authority Police. Chief Bratton assigned patrol commanders geographic areas of control and formed a crime analysis unit which met regularly to identify problem areas and develop strategies to combat those identified problems.
CompStat flourished in the mid 1990’s when Mayor Rudy Giuliani appointed William Bratton to be the 38th Police Commission of the New York City Police Department. Commissioner Bratton, a progressive thinker, was determined to stay abreast of major crimes within New York City. The FBI could only provide Commissioner Bratton with annual statistical data on major crimes which was not timely enough for the Commissioner. Commissioner Bratton called on the Commanders of the seventy-six (76) police precincts to report to him with weekly statistical data concerning major crime within the city. The crime data was collated and Commissioner Bratton went a step further. The Commissioner held regularly scheduled meetings to review crime trends within their commands and to ascertain what tactics were applied to address or resolve those trends. These meetings held Commanders accountable for crime trends with their assigned geographical areas. St. Mary’s CompStat is based on the New York City Police Department’s Crime Control Model.
CompStat begins with implementing realistic, clear, objectives. Law enforcement agencies must then devise strategies to achieve their desired objectives. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office agency objectives include:
1. Combat crimes of violence and the fear of crime
2. Aggressively pursue those who sell, and use drugs – seize all proceeds from their illegal activity.
3. Improve the quality of life in communities by reducing nuisance crimes
4. Break the cycle of domestic violence
5. Reduce traffic fatalities, injuries and property damage
6. Improve agency services – more responsive to community
Once identified Sheriff Cameron’s CompStat plan places the responsibility for achieving those objectives on the patrol sergeants. The Sheriff calls upon the Sergeants to iden