LAPD''s TEAMS II: The Impact of a Police Integrity Early Intervention System

The project will evaluate the Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) Early Intervention System, referred to as the Training Evaluation and Management System II or TEAMS II. The project will consist of three primary phases. First, a survey will be conducted of all full-time sworn officers in the LAPD with the rank of lieutenant including 327 probationary officers, 6,376 patrol officers, 1,174 sergeants, 1,599 detectives, 251 lieutenants, and 99 officers with the rank of captain or above. The survey will examine officers knowledge and perceptions as well as direct or indirect involvement with the TEAMS II system. Second, a sample of supervisors will be asked a unique set of questions regarding supervisory responsibilities for reviewing and judging the officers flagged by TEAMS II. Specifically, respondents will be asked to indicate the type of information most useful in deciding whether a flagged case requires further action and of what sort; assess the ease with which this information can be acquired; identify the most difficult aspects of the decisions made with flagged officers; assess the utility of the system in support of their larger supervisory function; and, indicate what changes, if any, would be preferred to improve the system. Additionally, data will be extracted from the TEAMS II system over a five-year period (2008-2013) and analyzed through multiple methods including time series analysis and regression-discontinuity design to assess the degree to which the EI system influences outcomes on behavior at the officer level including use of force incidents; citizen complaints against officers; claims and lawsuits; and, preventable vehicle crashes. Finally, cost-benefit analysis will be conducted to assess the time required by the TEAMS II system to screen the cases flagged by the automated process and the reduction of negative police behavior. ca/ncf