Reaching the Tipping Point in Los Angeles: A Time Series Analysis of Police Problem Solving.

MacArthur Park a 40 acre park located within LAPDs Rampart Division was a hot spot of disorder and crime during the 1990s. Not only was gang violence a serious concern, but the park was widely known to be one of the largest open-air drug markets in Los Angeles. In early 2003, newly appointed LAPD chief William Bratton assigned an innovative police commander to Rampart. Soon after, the Alvarado Corridor Initiative was developed. This initiative combined police problem solving and order maintenance practices with efforts from other city agencies to address crime and disorderly behavior in MacArthur Park. Using data from LAPDs Compstat Unit, this paper utilizes time-series analyses to assess the impact of the initiative on criminal activity in MacArthur Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]