Real-Time Crime Centers: Is it Even Possible to Measure Your Effectiveness?

Ty Webb, Caddyshack (1980) Among the many, there's a memorable and hysterical scene in the movie Caddyshack where two (2) golfers are talking about how they played earlier that day: Judge Smails: Ty, what did you shoot today? Ty Webb: Oh, Judge, I don't keep score. Judge Smails: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers? Ty Webb: By height. It brings to mind all the metrics that can be used to compare things -- those that are effective, appropriate, worthless, comical, interesting, operational, hidden, insignificant, obvious... * In US policing, all the rage is over Real-Time Crime Centers ( RTCCs ). They come by many names - real-time intel, watch desks, operations centers, situation rooms, etc, etc. But for some reason, the RTCC label is sticking... And because they come with relatively high price tags (in terms of worker salary & fancy technology), police agency executives rightly want to know how effective these hi-tech units are. But how do you measure the