The NOPD has cut response times for emergency calls for service by more than 60 percent in 2016, and one of the ways it’s making that happen is by taking calls over the phone.
Over the past year, Superintendent Michael Harrison expanded the APR, or Alternative Police Response Unit, which handles non-violent property crime reports over the phone.
Through this process, citizens who are affected by non-violent property crimes hear from an officer more quickly via phone and in turn, officers on the street are able to focus their time on more violent offenses. In addition, APR assists the NOPD Command Desk with calling complainants back while they wait for an officer to arrive.
At the end of October 2016, the APR was handling 8 percent of all reports taken by the department. This eliminates workload that would otherwise fall on district officers.
In the coming weeks, this unit will also be responsible for the department’s online reporting system, which is expected to launch at the end of December. APR officers will review and approve reports submitted by citizens through this system.
Click here to track police response times by NOPD district