Operation LASER and the Effectiveness of Hotspot Patrol: A Panel Analysis. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Uchida, Craig D.; Swatt, Marc L.
• Other Names: White Michael D. guest-editor.; Katz Charles M. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Police quarterly. Volume 16:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 287
• Page End: 304
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: police effectiveness -- crime hotspots -- problem-oriented policing -- smart policing; Police -- Periodicals; Law enforcement -- Periodicals; Police -- Périodiques; Lois -- Application -- Périodiques; 363.2
• DOI: 10.1177/1098611113497044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1098-6111

Abstract

Operation LASER (Los Angeles' Strategic Extraction and Restoration program) is a program conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department Newton Division to reduce gun violence as part of the Smart Policing Initiative. There are two components to this operation: a chronic offender component and a chronic location component. In the current study, the effectiveness of Operation LASER was assessed at the reporting district (RD) level using a panel design. Initial results indicated that there was a significant reduction in gun crime in RDs in Newton compared to RDs from other divisions. The treatment effect was decomposed into RDs that received both the chronic offender and chronic location components and that received only the chronic offender component. Results suggested that the reduction in gun crime was only observed in those RDs receiving both the chronic offender and location components. Implications of the current study for policy are then discussed.