Union PBA questions Comstat program

Critics say objectives methodology not met

Sunday, December 09, 2007

BY JASON JETT

Star-Ledger Staff

Union's Comstat program is about to enter its third year, and there remains mixed opinions on whether the crime-management effort is a good fit in the township, according to the police union.

Crime is down 15 percent in Union. But critics of the program note it is down 25 percent in neighboring and larger Elizabeth, where there is no Comstat.

The program has been successful in big cities like New York and Los Angeles, and has been implemented in small ones like Jersey City and East Orange.

Union police officers contend they should be able to use their acumen and training in battling crime rather than have their actions ordered on the basis of a computer analysis of the latest criminal data.

Their union representatives charge the program has been implemented by Township Administrator Frank Bradley in a top-down, dictatorial manner that allows no input by rank-and-file officers.

"If you read books by (Los Angeles Police Chief William) Bratton and other Comstat gurus, they explain it's important to take information from the bottom," said David Dougherty, president of Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 69 in Union.

"Bratton rides with LAPD officers, and then makes adjustments to the program there," he added. "Nothing like that happens here."

Dougherty said in Union the message given officers on how and where to focus policing changes daily, and from shift to shift, as Comstat pits commanders against each other in trying to obtain the lowest crime figures to prevent being harangued at weekly meetings.

He said one day officers are told to stop cars, the next to interrogate people in vehicles, and then to issue more summonses than warnings.

"Someone at the top is not putting the message out," he said of an alleged failure in articulating the program's methodology and objectives so police officers will buy into it.

"We want to do our job, no matter what you call the program," he added. "Give us the tools. No one is resisting the program. They just don't understand it."

Dougherty charged Bradley has implemented a "bastardized" version of Comstat in an effort to achieve what he thinks the program should accomplish. He noted police officers are not permitted to attend the weekly two-hour Comstat meetings.

PBA Attorney Timothy Smith, a former police officer and currently an instructor in the state police graduate studies program at Seton Hall University, said it is common in New York and other cities for police officers and citizens to attend precinct-level Comstat meetings.

'Input from street-level officers on patrol at night, not people who speculate on what's going on, is not only allowed but encouraged and in some places required," said Smith. "That makes sense, and you would think it would be an integral part of the process in Union.

Smith said citizens are allowed in neighborhood meetings on Comstat, but not in the ones at police headquarters.

In Union there are no police precincts, only headquarters, a fact noted by critics who say Comstat is only necessary to integrate the operations of a big-city police department.

"It permits Bradley to have more control of the police department," he said of the program. "He undermines the police chief, and uses Comstat in his quest for power. Take him out of the equation and Comstat will work just fine."

Bradley is the focus of a public campaign by the PBA calling for his resignation or removal, and he referred questions about his management of Comstat to Township Attorney Daniel Antonelli.

"The supervisory officers are all given training on implementing the program," said Antonelli. "It is a management tool. The training is with them, as opposed to the patrol division. If there is any inconsistency in the message or directions, that needs to be brought to the attention of the sergeant, lieutenant or captain of the squad."

Bradley was given a vote of confidence last month when the township committee appointed him appropriate authority for the police department, placing him over Police Chief Thomas Kraemer in the law-enforcement chain of command.

In introducing Comstat three years ago, Bradley cited Newton, Mass., as a model for the township. He noted there were three years of crime reductions after Jose Cordero, a retired NYPD inspector, brought Comstat to that Boston suburb with a population of 84,000.

However, Comstat quickly met with public outrage over dramatically increased motor vehicle stops and traffic tickets in the Massachusetts town.

Eventually a state court judge struck down Cordero's departmental policy of issuing no warnings, only summonses, to motorists pulled over in high-accident areas. As Comstat's popularity waned, Cordero departed Newton after 2.5 years for East Orange.

Shortly after his departure, the Newton police department dropped Comstat.

"In New York City it can work well on 42nd Street," Newton Police spokesman Lt. Bruce Apotheker said of Comstat. "Here it's residential, not urban. It's quite difficult to locate people under the cover of darkness behind houses."

Cordero, now civilian police director in East Orange, led Union township officials in a 2005 seminar on Comstat and later conducted a study of police utilization of data analysis.

"I told them it's important to know what's going on, know it well and do something about it, using effective tactics and follow-up," he said recently. "What specifically they are doing, I wouldn't know. There's no right or wrong. Comstat is implemented according to the needs of towns and cities."

Jason Jett may be contacted at jjett@starledger.com or (908) 302-1509.



Union PBA questions Comstat program Critics say objectives methodology not met Sunday, December 09, 2007 BY JASON JETT Star-Ledger Staff Union's Comstat program is about to enter its third year, and there remains mixed opinions on whether the crime-management effort is a good fit in the township, according to the police union. Crime is down 15 percent in Union. But critics of the program note it is down 25 percent in neighboring and larger Elizabeth, where there is no Comstat. The program has been successful in big cities like New York and Los Angeles, and has been implemented in small ones like Jersey City and East Orange. Union police officers contend they should be able to use their acumen and training in battling crime rather than have their actions ordered on the basis of a computer analysis of the latest criminal data. Their union representatives charge the program has been implemented by Township Administrator Frank Bradley in a top-down, dictatorial manner that allows no input by rank-and-file officers. "If you read books by (Los Angeles Police Chief William) Bratton and other Comstat gurus, they explain it's important to take information from the bottom," said David Dougherty, president of Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 69 in Union. "Bratton rides with LAPD officers, and then makes adjustments to the program there," he added. "Nothing like that happens here." Dougherty said in Union the message given officers on how and where to focus policing changes daily, and from shift to shift, as Comstat pits commanders against each other in trying to obtain the lowest crime figures to prevent being harangued at weekly meetings. He said one day officers are told to stop cars, the next to interrogate people in vehicles, and then to issue more summonses than warnings. "Someone at the top is not putting the message out," he said of an alleged failure in articulating the program's methodology and objectives so police officers will buy into it. "We want to do our job, no matter what you call the program," he added. "Give us the tools. No one is resisting the program. They just don't understand it." Dougherty charged Bradley has implemented a "bastardized" version of Comstat in an effort to achieve what he thinks the program should accomplish. He noted police officers are not permitted to attend the weekly two-hour Comstat meetings. PBA Attorney Timothy Smith, a former police officer and currently an instructor in the state police graduate studies program at Seton Hall University, said it is common in New York and other cities for police officers and citizens to attend precinct-level Comstat meetings. 'Input from street-level officers on patrol at night, not people who speculate on what's going on, is not only allowed but encouraged and in some places required," said Smith. "That makes sense, and you would think it would be an integral part of the process in Union. Smith said citizens are allowed in neighborhood meetings on Comstat, but not in the ones at police headquarters. In Union there are no police precincts, only headquarters, a fact noted by critics who say Comstat is only necessary to integrate the operations of a big-city police department. "It permits Bradley to have more control of the police department," he said of the program. "He undermines the police chief, and uses Comstat in his quest for power. Take him out of the equation and Comstat will work just fine." Bradley is the focus of a public campaign by the PBA calling for his resignation or removal, and he referred questions about his management of Comstat to Township Attorney Daniel Antonelli. "The supervisory officers are all given training on implementing the program," said Antonelli. "It is a management tool. The training is with them, as opposed to the patrol division. If there is any inconsistency in the message or directions, that needs to be brought to the attention of the sergeant, lieutenant or captain of the squad." Bradley was given a vote of confidence last month when the township committee appointed him appropriate authority for the police department, placing him over Police Chief Thomas Kraemer in the law-enforcement chain of command. In introducing Comstat three years ago, Bradley cited Newton, Mass., as a model for the township. He noted there were three years of crime reductions after Jose Cordero, a retired NYPD inspector, brought Comstat to that Boston suburb with a population of 84,000. However, Comstat quickly met with public outrage over dramatically increased motor vehicle stops and traffic tickets in the Massachusetts town. Eventually a state court judge struck down Cordero's departmental policy of issuing no warnings, only summonses, to motorists pulled over in high-accident areas. As Comstat's popularity waned, Cordero departed Newton after 2.5 years for East Orange. Shortly after his departure, the Newton police department dropped Comstat. "In New York City it can work well on 42nd Street," Newton Police spokesman Lt. Bruce Apotheker said of Comstat. "Here it's residential, not urban. It's quite difficult to locate people under the cover of darkness behind houses." Cordero, now civilian police director in East Orange, led Union township officials in a 2005 seminar on Comstat and later conducted a study of police utilization of data analysis. "I told them it's important to know what's going on, know it well and do something about it, using effective tactics and follow-up," he said recently. "What specifically they are doing, I wouldn't know. There's no right or wrong. Comstat is implemented according to the needs of towns and cities." Jason Jett may be contacted at jjett@starledger.com or (908) 302-1509. © 2007 The Star Ledger© 2007 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.