Examining links between dispatch time, deployment time and case resolution in agency incident data

Purpose This study aims to examine how beginning-stage decisions in the crime response model affect middle- and end-stage results. It explores how dispatch time influences police deployment time. Then this study examines the impact of both dispatch and police deployment time on two outcomes, stage results of the crime response model, clearance by arrest and suspension of an incident. The associations between dispatch and deployment time on clearance by arrest and suspended status are compared between violent and property crime incidents to account for differences in call treatment based on crime severity. Design/methodology/approach The research uses data from public-initiated calls that resulted in incident reports for violent (n = 15,745) and property crimes (n = 118,102). Ordinary least squares regression is used to examine the impact of dispatch time on deployment time, while logistic regression is used to examine how these times affect case clearance. Post-estimation tests compare results between violent and property crime subsamples. Findings Dispatch time negatively affects deployment time, but only for violent crimes. Longer dispatch times reduce case clearance rates, while extended officer time on scene positively influences outcomes. Conversely, incidents with longer dispatch times were more likely to be suspended. The effects differ significantly between property and violent crimes, indicating variation in how crimes are prioritized and handled by dispatch and police based on severity. Originality/value The findings offer insights for law enforcement agencies to improve resource allocation and investigative practices, emphasizing the need for crime-specific strategies and highlighting the importance of early-stage decisions in the crime response process.