|
|
|
Community Survey Executive Summary, May 2005
METHODOLOGY
The Stevens Point Police Department contracted with
the Community Research Center (CRC) at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point to conduct a community survey
of the city of Stevens Point. This survey is part of an overall strategic planning process undertaken by the SPPD.
The CRC developed a draft survey instrument after consultation with SPPD staff. The draft combined several current
surveys, as well as suggestions from the SPPD. A committee of SPPD staff then made further revisions to arrive
at the final survey instrument.
Surveys were mailed to households in the city of Stevens Point, returned to the Housing Authority's offices, collected
by CRC staff and taken to the CRC for data entry and analysis. 17,000 households received the survey, and 1,847
were returned. The return rate was approximately 11%.
Once collected by CRC staff, the surveys were weighted to ensure each area of the city was represented in the random
selection. That is, the surveys were divided into the eleven city wards before a random selection of surveys was
made from each ward. In addition, a random selection was made from those surveys with missing ward data. Finally,
a large selection of surveys returned by students was made to ensure adequate student responses for analysis.
In all, 449 surveys were used for analysis. At the 95% confidence level (the same results would occur 95 out of
100 times), this survey has an estimated error rate of 4.5%. A larger error rate exists when the overall group
is broken down to specific categories like gender, or area of city. The smaller the group, the less confidence
the reader should have in the results. This does not mean the data in smaller categories is of less value, only
that the reader should be somewhat more skeptical in the results.
The CRC created a database, entered the data from the surveys, and completed a data analysis. The Community Research
Center takes no responsibility for information gathered by others.
FINDINGS
1. There
is a remarkable agreement in survey responses. When the data from all surveys were compared to subsets of surveys
from students, males and females, contact with the SPPD, or area of the city, little or no differences were observed.
2. Almost
all respondents were white (98%), and a majority was female (59%). Respondents were well distributed by age, although
those 70 or older were slightly over-represented. 20% of respondents were students. Over 2/3 of respondents own
their own home
3. 2/3
of respondents have lived in the city for 11 or more years, and nearly half have lived at their current address
for 11 or more years. 2/3 of respondents also have had some contact with the SPPD (most within the last year),
but fewer households (15%) report someone being a victim of a crime.
4. 91%
of respondents know where the SPPD is located, and almost 2/3 of respondents have visited the Department. Many
respondents found the police facility easily accessible (86%), and a majority responded that the Police and Sheriff's
Departments should share the same building (58%). Most also thought it is important that the SPPD Headquarters
be in the corporate limits of the city.
5. Question
6: Rate the following performance and service qualities of the SPPD.
Rating Scale: 5 = highest level 1 = lowest level
Overall Average Response: 4.0
Above Average Responses:
4.4 - Professional Appearance
4.3 - Response Time to Emergency Calls
4.1 - Overall Quality
4.1 - Professional Conduct
Average Responses:
4.0 - Fairness
4.0 - Drug Enforcement
4.0 - Criminal Investigations
4.0 - Dispatch Service
4.0 - Records Bureau Service
Below Average Responses:
3.8 - Traffic Law Enforcement
3.7 - Parking Enforcement
3.6 - Presence of Police in Neighborhood
6. Question
7: What do you perceive to be problems in your neighborhood?
Rating Scale: 5 = highest level 1 = lowest level
Overall Average Response: 2.2
Highest Problem Areas
3.2 - Traffic/Speeding
2.7 - Vandalism
2.6 - Theft
2.5 - Parties/Noise
2.4 - Public Drinking
2.4 - Burglary/Robbery
2.4 - Illegal Drug Activity
Average Problem Areas
2.2 - Loitering/Curfew
Lowest Problem Area
2.1 - Vehicle Accidents
1.9 - Domestic Violence
1.7 - Physical Assaults
1.6 - Sexual Assault
1.6 - Child Abuse
1.5 - Gangs
7. Question
8: How safe do you feel?
Rating Scale 5 = Very safe 1 = Not safe
4.6 - during daylight hours
4.4 - in your neighborhood
4.2 - in the city of Stevens Point
3.9 - during nighttime hours
8. Additional
Findings:
- Many respondents are unaware of the performance and service qualities of the SPPD.
- University students have had much less contact with the SPPD, and have a lower awareness of the SPPD location than other groups. Students also are more likely to be unaware of SPPD performance and service qualities, and those that are aware tend to give lower ratings to the SPPD.
- Male respondents have had more contact than females with the SPPD and are somewhat more aware of the SPPD location.
- Respondents from Area 1 believe it is more important that the SPPD Headquarters be located within the corporate limits of Stevens Point.
See the Complete Survey Results.
110 KB File Requires Free Adobe Acrobat Reader