Foot Patrol Policing Strategy Rated by CrimeSolutions.gov

Philadelphia Foot Patrol Program Rated “Effective”

The Philadelphia Foot Patrol Program, a place-based policing strategy that used foot patrols in crime hot spots to reduce violent crime, has been rated “Effective.” Evaluators found significant reductions in reported violent crime, although the effect seemed to fade once officers were removed from the targeted beats.

The strategy emphasized increasing police visibility and presence in high-crime locations and thus did not concentrate on specific activities of officers while on patrol. During the implementation of the strategy, officers engaged in various types of activities while patrolling assigned locations. Some officers engaged in extensive community-oriented work, speaking to community members and visiting child care centers and juvenile hangouts. Other officers took a more crime-oriented approach to their patrol assignments, stopping vehicles at stop signs and intersections, and interviewing pedestrians. In sum, the strategy used a meticulous analysis of the distribution of violent crime, across locations, to successfully employ a visible presence of officers in the most problematic areas.

Learn more about this program and the evaluations on CrimeSolutions.gov.