As of March 28, Springfield Police Department officers are patrolling the city using a new beat map. This change is intended to more effectively utilize available staff to respond to calls for service and better assist the citizens of Springfield.
In preparation for this change, there was an extensive review of crime data, Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) data, and registered neighborhood association boundaries. Based on those findings, a new beat and zone structure was developed by SPD’s crime analysis and research and development units.
The city is now divided into two zones, with four beats per zone, for a total of eight beats. The department is expanding the Police Area Representative (PAR) program and will assign a PAR to each beat. The change also includes a designated Entertainment District, encompassing the downtown Community Improvement District (CID) area that will be staffed by a dedicated squad of officers during specific evening and weekend hours.
“We are hopeful these changes will allow for better resource allocation and result in more effective and efficient police services throughout the city,” said Police Chief Paul Williams.
All up-to-date maps are accessible on the Springfield Police Department website (Beat Map, Zone Map & CID Map).