Madison Police Department (MPD) staffing is discussed every year, particularly during the budget process. There have been staffing studies conducted in 1993, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2016. Since the 2007 Etico staffing study, the MPD has used patrol officer workload data to determine the appropriate number of officers assigned to patrol. The 2016 study validated this model as best practice for departments throughout the country to determine appropriate staffing levels.

The workload data is collected through the computer aided dispatch (CAD) that tracks all officer time devoted to response and investigation of calls for service. The 2018 data analysis showed an 11% increase in workload from the previous year. The city continues to grow both in geographic size and population. This growth contributes to the increase in police workload. Our goal is to balance the workload with 30 minutes per hour devoted to reactive response to calls for service and 30 minutes of uncommitted time for officers to be available and proactive with time for problem solving, traffic enforcement and foot patrol. The current data analysis shows patrol officers are currently spending 40 minutes per hour unavailable as they are responding to and investigating calls for service.

The North Police District is 15.9 square miles with 158 miles of roadway. There are approximately 15,022 housing units with an estimated 2019 population of 32,345. The number of patrol officers working in the North Police District responding to calls for service varies by time of day with three officers on the street 4‒7 am, four officers 7 am‒12 pm, and six officers covering the Northside 12 pm‒4 am. These are minimum staffing numbers for patrol, and these numbers will remain the same in 2020.

Our people are our greatest asset in the MPD. We need to address this workload and staffing issue as it is impacting the health and wellness of our officers.