report warrior © ofc. marc hodges, project coordinator maui police department 55 mahalani st.,...

Report Warrior Report Warrior ©©

Ofc. Marc Hodges, Ofc. Marc Hodges, Project CoordinatorProject CoordinatorMaui Police DepartmentMaui Police Department55 Mahalani St., Wailuku, Hawaii 9679355 Mahalani St., Wailuku, Hawaii 96793

July 17, 2003July 17, 20032003 Traffic Records Forum2003 Traffic Records ForumDenver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado

Note: Products mentioned are not endorsed by the County of Maui.Note: Products mentioned are not endorsed by the County of Maui.

MPD Report WarriorMPD Report Warrior

The Maui Police Department creates a highly-successfulThe Maui Police Department creates a highly-successfulpolice reporting system using front-line officerspolice reporting system using front-line officersand minimal funding.and minimal funding.


Maui Police DepartmentMaui Police Department

A moderate-sized police agency with 400+ officers andA moderate-sized police agency with 400+ officers andcivilians serving 140,000 residents and 2 million visitors civilians serving 140,000 residents and 2 million visitors annually across a four-island county.annually across a four-island county.


The Challenge:The Challenge:

Ever-increasing demands for police services are taxingEver-increasing demands for police services are taxingDepartment resources. New efficiencies are needed. Department resources. New efficiencies are needed.

The Department’s antiquated police reporting system, which The Department’s antiquated police reporting system, which relies on pens, typewriters and carbonless forms, wasrelies on pens, typewriters and carbonless forms, wasripe for overhaul and streamlining to improve operationalripe for overhaul and streamlining to improve operationalefficiency.efficiency.

Budgets are tight and procurement procedures lengthy.Budgets are tight and procurement procedures lengthy.

Monies for a major reporting and records system overhaulMonies for a major reporting and records system overhaulare secured, but implementation is years away.are secured, but implementation is years away.

An interim computerized police reporting system that An interim computerized police reporting system that could do the job without breaking the bank was needed.could do the job without breaking the bank was needed.


The Opportunity:The Opportunity:

Front-line patrol officers, frustrated with laborious and outdatedFront-line patrol officers, frustrated with laborious and outdatedmanual police report preparation methods, wanted to help buildmanual police report preparation methods, wanted to help buildthe interim police reporting system, and demonstrated thethe interim police reporting system, and demonstrated theexpertise to do so.expertise to do so.

Department leadership identified key advantages in using itsDepartment leadership identified key advantages in using itsown officers to build the system:own officers to build the system:

1) Reduced cost;1) Reduced cost;2) Shortened procurement cycles;2) Shortened procurement cycles;3) Department control of the product;3) Department control of the product;4) A street-savvy product made by officers for officers;4) A street-savvy product made by officers for officers;5) User buy-in.5) User buy-in.


The Plan:The Plan:

In a bold move, Department leadership gathered sevenIn a bold move, Department leadership gathered sevenfront-line street officers to tackle the project, provided a smallfront-line street officers to tackle the project, provided a smallbudget, empowered the team to build the system, andbudget, empowered the team to build the system, anddirected all components of the Department to assist.directed all components of the Department to assist.

The team consisted of three computer-proficient street officers,The team consisted of three computer-proficient street officers,three street officers with little to no computer experience, andthree street officers with little to no computer experience, andone street officer with database development experience.one street officer with database development experience.

The team was tasked with building a prototype computer policeThe team was tasked with building a prototype computer policereporting system, beta-testing the system during patrol duties, reporting system, beta-testing the system during patrol duties, and reporting its findings to Department leadership.and reporting its findings to Department leadership.


The Strategy:The Strategy:

The team used off-the-shelf relational database software to replicateThe team used off-the-shelf relational database software to replicate the 10 most commonly used Department police reporting forms andthe 10 most commonly used Department police reporting forms andto embed these forms into a multi-user client-server to embed these forms into a multi-user client-server database structure.database structure.

To ease transition from paper to on-screen reporting, the team To ease transition from paper to on-screen reporting, the team emphasized making the on-screen forms look just like the paperemphasized making the on-screen forms look just like the paperforms the officers were used to.forms the officers were used to.

The team used existing Department PCs and LAN infrastructureThe team used existing Department PCs and LAN infrastructureto deploy accessibility of the database to PCs at key locations in to deploy accessibility of the database to PCs at key locations in the Department’s main station and in satellite stations.the Department’s main station and in satellite stations.


Building and Testing the System:Building and Testing the System:

The team built the prototype computer police reporting system,The team built the prototype computer police reporting system,known as the Accelerated Interim Reporting System (AIRS),known as the Accelerated Interim Reporting System (AIRS),over the course of a month.over the course of a month.

The team then used the system The team then used the system over the course of three over the course of three months to prepare several months to prepare several hundred actual police reports hundred actual police reports while performing their regular while performing their regular patrol duties. The team made patrol duties. The team made constant improvements to the constant improvements to the system as needs and system as needs and shortcomings were identified.shortcomings were identified.


Server-Client Multi-User:Server-Client Multi-User:The system uses a central server and could support up The system uses a central server and could support up to 250 simultaneous clients.to 250 simultaneous clients.

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Findings:Findings:

The team found that the new system which it had built wasThe team found that the new system which it had built wasfast, flexible, and easy to develop and use.fast, flexible, and easy to develop and use.

The three team members with little prior computer experienceThe three team members with little prior computer experienceadapted quickly to the new technology and did as well withadapted quickly to the new technology and did as well withthe system as those with prior computer experience.the system as those with prior computer experience.

The team found that the new system made police work faster, The team found that the new system made police work faster, produced better reports, and improved morale.produced better reports, and improved morale.

The rest of the Department’s patrol officers were clamoringThe rest of the Department’s patrol officers were clamoringfor permission to use the system.for permission to use the system.

The team changed the name of the system from AIRS toThe team changed the name of the system from AIRS to““Report Warrior”Report Warrior”, and recommended Department-wide deployment., and recommended Department-wide deployment.


Full Deployment:Full Deployment:

Department leadership approved full deployment of Report Warrior.Department leadership approved full deployment of Report Warrior.

All officers were permitted to use the system on a voluntary basis.All officers were permitted to use the system on a voluntary basis.


Usership approaches 90%:Usership approaches 90%:

In the year and a In the year and a half since Report half since Report Warrior was built, Warrior was built, usership has usership has grown steadily. grown steadily.

Report Warrior is Report Warrior is now used to now used to prepare about prepare about 90% of the90% of theDepartment’s Department’s police reports.police reports.

0100200300400500600700800900

100011001200

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 56 61 66 71 76 81

Report Warrior Usershipover the 1.5 years of the project

W eeks s ince inception

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U = 92% at p = 0.55U = 84% at p = 0.60U = 78% at p = 0.65

Report W arrior usersh ip as m easured by num ber of face pages generated perw eek us ing RW . U = proportion of a ll face pages generated departm ent-w idethat w ere generated on RW . p = proportion of report num bers pulled annually (t= 110,000) that resulted in a face page. A c tual p is unknow able w ith presentRM S . U g iven for like ly range of p .


Brief Demo…Brief Demo…


Cost-Effective:Cost-Effective:

The Report Warrior Project has been highly cost-effective:The Report Warrior Project has been highly cost-effective:

Cost Wage savings Gain ROI

To date To date Annual To date 1st year To date 1st year

$15,900 $57,151 $119,063 $41,251 $103,163 259% 649%


Recognition:Recognition:

The Maui Police Department is a CALEA-accredited police agency.The Maui Police Department is a CALEA-accredited police agency.

During its most recent triennial review of the Department,During its most recent triennial review of the Department,CALEA singled out Report Warrior as an area of excellence in theCALEA singled out Report Warrior as an area of excellence in theDepartment’s overall performance. Use of Report WarriorDepartment’s overall performance. Use of Report Warrioras a national exemplar is now being considered.as a national exemplar is now being considered.


Next steps:Next steps:

The power and flexibility of the system, as well as the easeThe power and flexibility of the system, as well as the easeand low cost of development, have spurred plans for newand low cost of development, have spurred plans for newinitiatives.initiatives.

The Department is working with partner agencies, especiallyThe Department is working with partner agencies, especiallyHawaii State DoT Highways and the Hawaii State Judiciary, Hawaii State DoT Highways and the Hawaii State Judiciary, to build additional capabilities into Report Warrior that leverageto build additional capabilities into Report Warrior that leverageresources by meeting mutual needs.resources by meeting mutual needs.

Current initiatives include expansion of the Report Warrior networkCurrent initiatives include expansion of the Report Warrior networkinfrastructure to include more access points, development ofinfrastructure to include more access points, development ofelectronic traffic citations, deployment of Report Warrior overelectronic traffic citations, deployment of Report Warrior overlaptops and wireless networks, and improving efficiencies bylaptops and wireless networks, and improving efficiencies byfunneling data to partner agencies.funneling data to partner agencies.


Conclusions:Conclusions:

Report Warrior has been a highly-successful initiative. Report Warrior has been a highly-successful initiative. Development costs were low. Return is high. Productivity Development costs were low. Return is high. Productivity and morale are up.and morale are up.

The system enables new opportunities, including e-citations andThe system enables new opportunities, including e-citations andbetter inter-agency teamwork.better inter-agency teamwork.

This success may be a model. Departments needing custom policeThis success may be a model. Departments needing custom policedata and reporting software solutions may be able to build them data and reporting software solutions may be able to build them in-house. Benefits can include lower cost, faster development,in-house. Benefits can include lower cost, faster development,close customization, product ownership, and user buy-in.close customization, product ownership, and user buy-in.


Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:

This Initiative would have been impossible without the This Initiative would have been impossible without the continued trust and support of Chief Phillips, Deputy Chief Akana, continued trust and support of Chief Phillips, Deputy Chief Akana, the sworn and civilian personnel of the Maui Police Department, the sworn and civilian personnel of the Maui Police Department, and the Maui Police Commission, Maui County MIS, Maui Fire and the Maui Police Commission, Maui County MIS, Maui Fire Department, the Office of the Mayor, the First and Second Circuits Department, the Office of the Mayor, the First and Second Circuits of the Hawaii State Judiciary, and many others not named. of the Hawaii State Judiciary, and many others not named.

The assistance of all these persons and agencies is greatlyThe assistance of all these persons and agencies is greatlyappreciated and gratefully acknowledged.appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.


Closing Thought:Closing Thought:

Taking risks to empower employees, even those at the lowestTaking risks to empower employees, even those at the lowestlevels of an organization, can produce substantial benefits levels of an organization, can produce substantial benefits for an agency.for an agency.

report warrior © ofc. marc hodges, project coordinator maui police department 55 mahalani st.,...

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