Public Safety Reports

Police Operations and Data Analysis Report, Morgan Hill, California

integrated approach to criminal investigations using a mix of patrol and Special Operations Division

resources is sound.

In order to improve its criminal investigations process the MHPD should establish more a more

rigorous case management system. The Special Operations Division supervisor must have a

frequent report (weekly) of all the cases assigned to each investigator, the status of each case, as

well as a running account of the number of cases cleared by type of crime and by individual

investigator. Similarly, a process should be established to better manage cases investigated by

patrol. The process now is too informal. Cases get assigned to patrol officers and there is no system

in place to track and manage those investigations. Clearly, the MHPD is doing a very good job

identifying and apprehending offenders as evidenced by the high clearance rate; however, a better

job could be done to manage this process more closely on both the Special Operations Division level

and the patrol level.

Three conclusions can be drawn from this discussion. First, the Special Operations Division, and the

department in general, does an excellent job apprehending offenders after they commit crimes. A

simple calculation of the crime clearance rates indicates tremendous success in this area. Second,

the detective bureau should use this information more deliberately and more rigorously to track

the effectiveness of the department as a whole as well as the effectiveness of each detective.

Understanding clearance rates in a frequent and ongoing fashion would allow the department to

manage the investigative function even more effectively. It is recommended that a process be

established whereby clearance rates are calculated for each major category of crime and for each

detective in order to monitor investigative outcomes. Third, in order to support this effort, a

distinction must be drawn between cases assigned to detectives and cases assigned to patrol. The

Special Operations Division supervisor should manage all follow-up criminal investigations and

work closely with the Field Operations commander to ensure cases assigned to patrol are

investigated appropriately.

The MHPD Special Operations Division deploys one detective assigned to street crimes, narcotics,

and gang enforcement. Ordinarily, there are two detectives assigned to this position. The

functionality of this assignment is lacking due to the vacancy. It is impossible for one detective to

conduct street-level enforcement of any kind. Because of this limitation the detective has been

repurposed to assist with the property crime detective as well with other needs of the division.

Without a clear understanding of the caseload handled by any of the detectives in Special

Operations, assigning an additional detective to assist with property crime investigations seems

misdirected. The MHPD should consider either eliminating this street crimes unit altogether or

adding an additional detective to fill the vacancy. In its current state, the street crimes enforcement

mission is not being fulfilled, and resources are being directed at a function that might not need

assistance. The department might be better served by reassigning the investigator assigned to the

Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force (DEATF) to the street crime position.

The Special Operations Division supervisor is also responsible for coordinating special events in the

community. Each year the department is responsible for providing necessary police coverage to