On October 5, the department launched its new, holistic, data-driven approach to police management known as MAX, or Management Analysis for Xcellence.

MAX replaces the department COMSTAT meetings which were mainly focused on information sharing regarding crime trends. The new program, which is available to the public online, takes that approach even further by focusing not only on crime, but on all other topics for which a police commander has responsibility.

How did the Department create MAX?

To develop MAX, the NOPD Analytics Unit began researching examples in January of how data is used in police organizations and other organizations to manage change. After completing the research, the Department created a diverse set of stakeholders charged with moving this project forward led by the Director of Analytics. The group included:

• A working group of NOPD Commanders
• NOPD IT staff
• City Hall ITI staff
• Office of the Consent Decree Monitor
• Mayor’s Office of Performance and Accountability (OPA)
• NOPD Compliance Bureau staff

Starting in April, NOPD convened a working group of NOPD commanders that systematically reviewed the existing Department and District COMSTAT process evaluating the utility of each indicator as well as how it was presented. Then the group began focusing on every other area under their control with a discussion focused on what they expect of themselves and of the supervisors under their command.

Concurrently, NOPD was in the final stages of the deployment of a data warehouse in support of Insight (the Department’s Early Intervention System). The data warehouse includes a plethora of NOPD source systems covering call for service, police reports, field interview cards, use of force, misconduct reports, District Attorney case information, and more. The Analytics Unit then researched these available datasets and through an iterative process developed a set of indicators and information design working with the NOPD Commanders. Throughout the entire process, the Office of the Consent Decree Monitor was involved and provided useful feedback and guidance. Moreover, as a result of NOPD’s participation in the DOJ’s Violence Reduction Network, outside experts were also consulted to discuss best practices in management data analysis, meeting facilitation, and information design.

The result is a new model for managing internal police performance called MAX.

Check it out here.