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Every agency has them – the problems that keep the chief’s phone ringing and the community demanding action. The instinct may be to borrow a strategy from a neighboring department or pull a promising model off a research website. But turning theory into practice is rarely plug-and-play. On this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Lt. Matt Barter of the Manchester (New Hampshire) Police Department about applying hotspot policing research to quality-of-life issues – and what agencies can learn when the results aren’t what they expected.
Barter’s team targeted high-call areas for quality-of-life complaints using scheduled 15-minute hotspot patrols, density mapping and matched comparison areas. Officers increased directed patrol activity by roughly 80%, engaged businesses and focused on place-based prevention. Calls declined in the target areas – but they declined even more in untreated comparison areas. The takeaway: Without a true counterfactual, agencies risk declaring success too soon. Barter explains why transparent evaluation, cross-agency collaboration and iterative problem-solving matter more than claiming a quick win – and how patrol leaders can better align data, deployment and real-world conditions.
Connect with Lt. Matt Barter on LinkedIn.
Tune in to discover
- Why hotspot policing isn’t as simple as picking the “five worst spots” in town
- How Manchester PD used density mapping and comparison areas to test a quality-of-life strategy
- Why a drop in calls doesn’t always mean your strategy worked
- What patrol leaders can do to keep officers engaged in data-driven initiatives
- Why publishing and sharing “no impact” results may be just as important as celebrating success
Learn more about evidence-based policing
- From the ivory tower to the patrol car: Applied Police Briefings translates research into policing power
- The science behind the badge: Jerry Ratcliffe on embracing evidence-based practices in law enforcement
- 5 examples of how evidence-based policing enhances law enforcement
- InFocus: How implementation science can help tailor evidence-based policing practices
- ASU Center for Problem-Oriented Policing
- American Society of Evidence-Based Policing
About our sponsor
This episode is sponsored by BLTN, Powered by Multitude Insights. Better bulletins solve crimes. BLTN is the nationwide intelligence-sharing platform built by law enforcement, for law enforcement. One centralized system to create, distribute, and analyze bulletins—connecting agencies in real time so critical intel reaches the right people when it matters most. No more inbox sprawl, no more missed leads—just faster coordination and better outcomes. Visit multitudeinsights.com to see how agencies are closing more cases, faster.
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