Shawnee, Kansas

The Shawnee Police Department SPI examined the effects of Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) on vehicle theft, vehicle burglary, robbery, and vehicle collisions in a selected target zone. In addition, the study examined officer attitudes toward the implementation of DDACTS, as well as business and resident perceptions. Focus groups were conducted in which department staff were asked questions based on four central foci related to the adoption and implementation of the DDACTS initiative in Shawnee: purpose, training, effectiveness, and sustainability. In addition, officers were deployed to DDACTS areas and used high-visibility traffic enforcement to reduce crashes and make more contacts in the area. The result was a greater police presence, more traffic stops, and improved quality of life in Shawnee.