Today, there are two and one-half times or 1,461 officers assigned to patrol the neighborhoods. A new mission for MPD has been adopted. It had been stopped for years. Recruitment of new police officer cadets has improved. Background checks of potential cadets is more rigorous.
Standards are higher.
These arrests have a great deal to do with the overall crime reductions Performance measurement systems are being put in place to help reward those officers doing a good job and penalize those who are not. There is some improvement in the supporting infrastructure. Homicide leadership has changed and improvements in crime scene control and case management has occurred. Random drug testing has been implemented for all police officers. The rate of positive change in MPD is significant since March 1, 1997.