Kansas City, Kansas
Operation ICON
Project Overview
The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department established micro-hot spot zones in various locations throughout the city, named Operation ICON (Impacting Crime in Our Neighborhoods). The micro-hot spots were established due to the significant increase in violent crime from 2013-2017. The micro-hot spots were established based on crime data from the previous 45 days. The locations that showed the most violent crime during that time frame are designated as micro-hot spots. This allowed officers to address criminal activity and quality of life issues on a neighborhood basis. Officers prioritized traffic stops, pedestrian checks, along with business and residential checks, in order to increase visibility and positive community engagement within the micro-hot spots. The violent crime data within the micro-hot spots were reviewed every 45 days. If a significant decrease was shown in a micro-hot spot, then that micro-hot spot was considered stabilized. A new micro-hot spot was then be established based upon the most recent violent crime data available. Throughout the research period and at its conclusion, crime data was routinely reviewed in order to determine if any significant decrease in violent crime was noted in the micro-hot spots based on the “Koper Curve” proactive theory.
Methods and Findings
Research Design
The sites, with buffer zones, were randomly assigned as either treatment or control areas: five for saturation patrol; five for network-based intervention (NBI); and six control areas. Comparable pre- and post-intervention periods were established to measure results and changes over time.
Findings
- Saturation patrol resulted in fewer high priority calls for service
- Saturation patrol resulted in fewer crimes, although the impact was modest
- Network-based interventions resulted in fewer high priority calls for service during the first year of implementation but increases in the second year.
- Crime in network-based intervention experienced few changes in overall crime, and violent crime in these MHSs increased relative to control areas
