ARTICLES
COMMUNITY POLICING SERIES
Perceptions of Safety:
A comparison of foot patrol versus motor patrol
by Robert Trojanowicz and Dennis Bnas
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APPENDIX A (click here to return
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Table 1
Identifying Data for Motor and Foot Officers (See Also Table 1a)
| |
Rank |
Shifts
Worked |
|
Race*
|
Gender*
|
Age
|
Military
Experience
|
Number of Years as
Flint Police Officer
|
| Position |
Patrol
Officers |
After-
Days noons |
Male
- Female |
Black
- White |
Male
- Female |
30
or less 31-35; 36-40; 41-45; 46 |
| Black |
White |
Black |
White |
No
- Yes |
0-5 6-10 11-15 16+
Total |
Foot
Officer |
(64)
56.1
|
(33)
51.6
|
(31)
48.4
|
(45)
70.3
|
(19)
29.7
|
(23)
36.5
|
(40)
63.5
|
(11)
17.5
|
(34)
54.0
|
(12)
19.0
|
(6)
9.5
|
(22)
34.4
|
(16)
25.0
|
(17)
26.5
|
(6)
9.4
|
(3)
4.7
|
(43)
67.2
|
(21)
32.8
|
(12)
18.8
|
(31)
48.4
|
(13)
20.3
|
(8)
12.5
|
(64)
100.0
|
Motor
Officer |
(50)
43.9
|
(22)
44.0
|
(28)
56.0
|
(42)
84.0
|
(8)
16.0
|
(10)
20.0
|
(40)
80.0
|
(7)
14.0
|
(35)
70.0
|
(3)
6.0
|
(5)
10.0
|
(33)
66.0
|
(9)
18.0
|
(3)
6.0
|
(3)
6.0
|
(2)
4.0
|
(39)
78.0
|
(11)
22.0
|
(21)
42.0
|
(20)
40.0
|
(4)
8.0
|
(5)
10.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
| Total |
(114)
100.0
|
(55)
48.2
|
(59)
51.8
|
(87)
76.3
|
(27)
23.7
|
(33)
29.2
|
(80)
70.8
|
(18)
15.9
|
(69)
61.1
|
(15)
13.3
|
(11)
9.7
|
(55)
48.2
|
(25)
21.9
|
(20)
17.5
|
(9)
7.9
|
(5)
4.4
|
(82)
71.9
|
(32)
28.1
|
(33)
29.0
|
(51)
44.7
|
(17)
14.9
|
(13)
11.4
|
(114)
100.0
|
*Note: 1 Oriental not included in data on race.
Table 1a
Percentage Table on Number of Years as Flint Police Officer (Race
and Gender Controlled)
|
RACE*
|
| Position |
WHITE
|
BLACK
|
Total
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
0-5
|
6-10
|
11-15
|
16+
|
0-5
|
6-10
|
11-15
|
16+
|
0-5
|
6-10
|
11-15
|
16+
|
0-5
|
6-10
|
11-15
|
16+
|
Foot
Officer |
(5)
7.9
|
(12)
19.0
|
(9)
14.3
|
(8)
12.7
|
(3)
4.8
|
(3)
4.8
|
(0)
0.0
|
(0)
0.0
|
(2)
3.2
|
(5)
7.9
|
(4)
6.3
|
(0)
0.0
|
(2)
3.2
|
(10)
15.9
|
(0)
0.0
|
(0)
0.0
|
(63)
100.0
|
Motor
Officer |
(15)
30.0
|
(13)
26.0
|
(2)
4.0
|
(5)
10.0
|
(2)
4.0
|
(3)
6.0
|
(0)
0.0
|
(0)
0.0
|
(3)
6.0
|
(2)
4.0
|
(2)
4.0
|
(0)
0.0
|
(1)
2.0
|
(2)
4.0
|
(0)
0.0
|
(0)
0.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
*Note: 1 Asian American not included in data on race.
Table 2
Comparison of 22 Foot Officers Versus 47 Motor Officers
to Determine Perceptions of Safety (1980)
(See Also Tables 2a-2e)
How
safe do you personally feel:
Foot officers feel safer than motor
officers at this level of
significance |
| a. Walking
in your area (or driving in your area) |
.000 |
| b. Entering
buildings in your area |
.009 |
| c. Answering
complaints in your area |
.003 |
| d. Helping
victims in your area |
.002 |
| e. Conducting
field interviews in your area |
.001 |
Table 2a
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Walking (or driving) in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct
Perceptions of Safety |
| Safe |
Very
safe |
Total |
|
(28)
59.6
|
(19)
40.4
|
(47)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .000
Table 2b
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Entering Buildings in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct
Perceptions of Safety |
| Position |
Not safe |
Very safe |
Safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(2)
9.1
|
(7)
31.8
|
(13)
59.1
|
(22)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(7)
14.9
|
(29)
61.7
|
(11)
23.4
|
(47)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .009
Table 2c
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Answering Complaints in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct
Perceptions of Safety |
| Postiion |
Not safe |
Somewhat safe |
Very safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(0)
0.0
|
(10)
45.5
|
(12)
54.5
|
(22)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(4)
8.5
|
(33)
70.2
|
(10)
21.3
|
(47)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .003
Table 2d
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Helping Victims in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct
Perceptions of Safety |
| Position |
Not safe |
Somewhat safe |
Very safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(0) 0.0 |
(5) 22.7 |
(17) 77.3 |
(22) 100.0 |
| Motor
Officer |
(5) 10.9 |
(27) 58.7 |
(14) 30.4 |
(46) 100.0 |
Level of Significance: .001
Note: 1 motor officer data missing
Table 3
Comparison of 64 Motor Officers Versus 50 Foot Officers
to Determine Perceptions of Safety (1984)
(See Also Tables 3a-3g)
How
safe do you personally feel:
Foot officers feel safer than motor
officers at this level of
significance
|
| a. Walking
in your area (or driving in your area) |
.0203 |
| b. Entering
buildings in your area |
.0002 |
| c. Answering
complaints in your area |
.0011 |
| d. Helping
victims in your area |
.0002 |
| e. Conducting
field interviews in your area |
.0020 |
| f. Walking
in the area out of uniform |
.0003 |
| g. Walking
in the area off duty |
.0000 |
Table 3a
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Walking or Driving in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct
Perceptions of Safety |
| Position |
Not safe |
Somewhat safe |
Very safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(0)
0.0
|
(25)
39.1
|
(29)
60.9
|
(64)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(4)
8.0
|
(25)
50.0
|
(21)
42.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0203
Table 3b
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Entering Buildings in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct Perceptions of Safety |
| Position |
Not safe |
Somewhat safe |
Very safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(3)
4.7
|
(34)
53.1
|
(27)
42.2
|
(64)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(10)
20.0
|
(35)
70.0
|
(5)
10.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0002
Table 3c
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Answering Complaints in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct Perceptions of Safety |
| Position |
Not safe |
Somewhat safe |
Very safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(1)
1.6
|
(29)
45.3
|
(34)
53.1
|
(64)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(3)
6.0
|
(37)
74.0
|
(10)
20.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0011
Table 3d
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Helping Victims in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct
Perceptions of Safety |
| Position |
Not safe |
Somewhat safe |
Very safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(0)
0.0
|
(31)
48.4
|
(33)
51.6
|
(64)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(4)
8.0
|
(34)
68.0
|
(12)
24.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0020
Table 3f
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Walking Out of Uniform in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct
Perceptions of Safety |
| Position |
Not safe |
Somewhat safe |
Very safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(3)
4.7
|
(27)
42.2
|
(34)
53.1
|
(64)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(11)
22.0
|
(29)
58.0
|
(10)
20.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0003
Table 3g
Percentage Table on Officers' Perceptions of Safety:
Walking Off Duty in Own Area
(Count)
Row Pct
Perceptions of Safety |
| Position |
Not safe |
Somewhat safe |
Very safe |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(1)
1.6
|
(30)
46.9
|
(33)
51.6
|
(64)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(13)
26.0
|
(28)
56.0
|
(9)
18.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0000
Table 4
Percentage Table on Officers' Estimate of Residents' Feelings
on Danger in Own Patrol Area
|
Estimate of Residents Feelings
|
| Position |
Overestimate |
Right on target |
Understimate |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(23)
35.9
|
(30)
46.9
|
(11)
17.2
|
(64)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(3)
6.0
|
(30)
60.0
|
(17)
34.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0005
Table 5
Percentage Table on Foot Officers' and Motor Officers'
Perceptions of Residents' Willingness to Actively Come to Their Aid
(See Also Table 5a)
|
Responses to: How active would residents
be in helping if you were in trouble?
|
| Position |
Not active |
Somewhat active |
Very active |
Total |
| Foot
Officer |
(6)
9.4
|
(40)
62.5
|
(18)
28.1
|
(64)
100.0
|
| Motor
Officer |
(20)
40.0
|
(30)
60.0
|
(0)
0.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0000
Table 5a
Percentage Table on Foot and Motor Officers' Perceptions on
How Active Residents Would be Helping if Officer Were in Trouble
(Race and Gender Controlled)
|
Cell data:
(Count)
Row Pct
Col Pct
|
PERCEPTIONS OF RESIDENTS' LEVEL OF ACTIVITY
|
|
BLACK
|
WHITE
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Position
|
Not
|
Some
what
|
Very
|
Not
|
Some
what
|
Very
|
Not
|
Some
what
|
Very
|
Not
|
Some
what
|
Very
|
Total
|
Foot
Officer |
0
0.0
0.0
|
8
12.7
57.1
|
3
4.8
100.0
|
0
0.0
0.0
|
7
11.1
77.8
|
5
7.9
100.0
|
5
7.9
22.7
|
23
36.5
56.1
|
6
9.5
100.0
|
1
1.6
50.0
|
2
3.2
33.3
|
3
4.8
100.0
|
63
100.0
55.8
|
Motor
Officer |
1
2.0
100.0
|
6
12.0
42.9
|
0
0.0
0.0
|
1
2.0
100.0
|
2
4.0
22.2
|
0
0.0
0.0
|
17
34.0
77.3
|
18
36.0
43.9
|
0
0.0
0.0
|
1
2.0
50.0
|
4
8.0
66.7
|
0
0.0
0.0
|
50
100.0
44.2
|
| Total |
1
0.9
100.0
|
14
12.4
100.0
|
3
2.7
100.0
|
1
0.9
100.0
|
9
7.9
100.0
|
5
4.4
100.0
|
22
19.5
100.0
|
41
36.3
100.0
|
6
5.3
100.0
|
2
1.8
100.0
|
6
5.3
100.0
|
3
2.6
100.0
|
113
100.0
100.0
|
Table 6
Percentage Table on Perceptions of Safety of Motor Officers
and Foot Officers in Own Patrol Area Compared to the Rest of Flint
(see also Table 6a)
|
Perceptions of Safety
|
| Position |
Safer
|
Same
|
Less Safe
|
Total
|
Foot
Officer |
(29)
45.3
|
(27)
42.2
|
(8)
12.5
|
(64)
100.0
|
Motor
Officer |
(11)
22.0
|
(20)
40.0
|
(19)
38.0
|
(50)
100.0
|
Level of Significance: .0024
Table 6a
Percentage Table on Perceptions of Safety in Own Area,
As Compared to Rest of Flint, of Foot Officers and Motor Officers
(Race and Gender Controlled)
|
BLACK
|
WHITE
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Male
|
Female
|
| Position |
Safer
|
Same
|
Less
Safe
|
Safer
|
Same
|
Less
Safe
|
Safer
|
Same
|
Less
Safe
|
Safer
|
Same
|
Less
Safe
|
Grand
Total
|
Foot
Officer |
(2)
66.7
|
(7)
63.6
|
(2)
50.0
|
(3)
100.0
|
(7)
77.8
|
(2)
66.7
|
(19)
65.5
|
(12) |
