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OPINION Heat maps help police zero in on impaired driving hot spots Information enabled service to alter deployment models, writes deputy chief Duraiappah The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is targeting its enforcement initiatives in an effort to address impaired driving - one of the three big road safety issues in the region. We are leveraging our existing database of im- paired-related information and using business intelli- gence and advanced ana- " lytics to refine our deploy- ment model, develop inng- vative tactics and inform enforcement activities. Our first goal was to use existing frontline resounc- es more effectively to com- bat impaired driving. This required thinking outside the box of traditional mod- els of enforcement. Heat mapping The HRPS's Analytics and Decision Support team created "heat maps" of im- paired offences, = which clearly highlighted high- risk times of day and days of the week during which impaired driving offences in Halton were most likely to occur. Analysts took -these temporal maps and overlaid them with heat maps of locations where. impaired collisions were occurring. As a result of this collat- ed information, we altered "our deployment models to ensure that frontline offi- cers were conducting en- forcement activities at dif- ferent times and locations, where the interception of JO ESCAPE NISHAN DURAIAPPAH Column an impaired driver was likely greater. This includ- ed RIDE enforcement dur- ing daytime hours, with smaller teams and at geo- graphic locations support- ed by historical collision data. The result? RIDE en- forcement at peak periods resulted in increased im- paired arrests. - Communications: Crime in Progress When a citizen calls po- lice to report a suspected impaired driver, the 911 call is initially captured by the police communications bureau, which then trans- fers the call to a dispatcher. The dispatcher priori- tizes the call based on all available information, and the call is then dispatched to frontline officers ac- cordingly. * When they examined data associated with im- paired-related calls, they said they found a direct correlation between the time it takes for a call taker . to receive the call, and the dispatcher to dispatch the _ call, to the likelihood of an arrest for an impaired driving offence. If we reduced the time span to a lower threshold between the call coming in from the public and the frontline officer intercept- ing the impaired driver, dispatchers could have a significant impact on im- paired driving outcomes. Using this information, we consolidated some of the sub-codes that differ- entiate between 911 calls and non-emergency calls to expedite response times for possible impaired driv- ers." The HRPS also commit- ted to enhancing dispatch- er engagement by employ- ing the use of internal mul- ti-media messaging to re- mind all staff of the victimization caused by this crime. This messaging graphi- cally demonstrates the devastating outcomes of impaired driving, includ- ing damage to vehicles and property, results of road- side testing, and charges laid. Next week, Part Two Duraiappah's three-pa column outlines the vice's decision to. 'lish the names of alleged im- paired drivers as well as the service's strategic partnerships. Nishan Duraiappah is the Halton Regional Police Service's Deputy Chief. COMMUNITY ro . " Rs, 5. --. il i" ny ND ' fr, ka a ey a Nd Wy Fa TON Soper: Ariana Lopes ane seph Yaworski in B where they togk in 'the ; sights and teered ata noregtan 70 held for more 7,000 kids in Sim + ong The event was cpfated and hosted by Lhidy Lopes, Ariana's father. Going away? Lack a copy of the Champion in your 'suitcase, snap a creative photo and email your Champion Tracks submission to . cohara@metroland.com. Please include everyone's name and destination information. WGallin "MILTON ef. 19 CHAMPION TRACKS Joseph Yaworski photos 8L0Z 'I yorey 'Aepsiny| | uoidwey) ueipeue) UOHIW | © ganice place to do Lie EXILORER ngeres . WOD°Uoc)eyspIsul