New predictive policing software, from the company PredPol, puts officers in locations before crime occurs. Rollouts in Los Angeles and Santa Cruz, CA show it works. Both cities have seen large reductions in crimes and have caught people in the act.
Predictive policing, spearheaded by the company PredPol, uses a complex algorithm to identify 500-square-foot geographical areas for police to patrol. The software program provides easy-to-use maps that direct officers to crime before it occurs.
Faced with declining budgets and greater demands police departments are looking for tools that help deploy resources more effectively. One major resource emerging for cops is predictive policing - spearheaded by a new company called PredPol.