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Testing the Validity of a Queueing Model of Police Patrol

Author

Listed:
  • Linda Green

    (Graduate School of Business, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027)

  • Peter Kolesar

    (Graduate School of Business, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027)

Abstract

This paper describes efforts to validate a multiple car dispatch queueing (MCD) model of police patrol operations using New York City data. The MCD model was designed for use in a computer system that has been disseminated to many police departments in the U.S. to help planners allocate patrol cars among precincts. It has also been used to evaluate specific changes in patrol policy in New York. We define validation as a series of hierarchical procedures ranging from tests of mathematical correctness to evaluations of model robustness. We discuss the difficulties and limitations of assessing the validity of a model of a loosely managed system in which human behavior is central and in which controlled experiments cannot be performed. Focusing on specific uses, we conclude that the MCD model is a good although imperfect description of patrol operations in New York and is a potentially useful planning tool for many other urban police departments.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Green & Peter Kolesar, 1989. "Testing the Validity of a Queueing Model of Police Patrol," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(2), pages 127-148, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:35:y:1989:i:2:p:127-148
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.35.2.127
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nicole Adler & Alfred Hakkert & Jonathan Kornbluth & Tal Raviv & Mali Sher, 2014. "Location-allocation models for traffic police patrol vehicles on an interurban network," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 221(1), pages 9-31, October.
    2. Marcos Singer & Patricio Donoso & Natalia Jadue, 2004. "Evaluacion De Las Oportunidades De Mejoramiento De La Logistica Directa De Emergencia," Abante, Escuela de Administracion. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile., vol. 7(2), pages 179-209.
    3. Linda V. Green & Peter J. Kolesar, 2004. "ANNIVERSARY ARTICLE: Improving Emergency Responsiveness with Management Science," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(8), pages 1001-1014, August.
    4. Tan, Xiaoqian & Knessl, Charles & Yang, Yongzhi (Peter), 2013. "On finite capacity queues with time dependent arrival rates," Stochastic Processes and their Applications, Elsevier, vol. 123(6), pages 2175-2227.
    5. Sukanya Samanta & Goutam Sen & Soumya Kanti Ghosh, 2022. "A literature review on police patrolling problems," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 316(2), pages 1063-1106, September.
    6. P. Daniel Wright & Matthew J. Liberatore & Robert L. Nydick, 2006. "A Survey of Operations Research Models and Applications in Homeland Security," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 36(6), pages 514-529, December.
    7. Hall, Randolph, 2000. "Incident Dispatching, Clearance and Delay," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt2pp689vn, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    8. Linda V. Green & Peter J. Kolesar, 1998. "A Note on Approximating Peak Congestion in Mt/G/\infty Queues with Sinusoidal Arrivals," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(11-Part-2), pages 137-144, November.
    9. Kevin Curtin & Karen Hayslett-McCall & Fang Qiu, 2010. "Determining Optimal Police Patrol Areas with Maximal Covering and Backup Covering Location Models," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 125-145, March.
    10. Hall, Randolph W., 2002. "Incident dispatching, clearance and delay," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 1-16, January.
    11. N C Simpson & P G Hancock, 2009. "Fifty years of operational research and emergency response," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(1), pages 126-139, May.
    12. Hall, Randolph W., 2001. "Incident Management: Process Analysis and Improvement," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt1jf6j37t, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.

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