UMD Researchers Are Working with APD to Analyze Resource Allocation and Staffing

Researchers from the Maryland Crime Research and Innovation Center (MCRIC) at the University of Maryland are partnering with the Annapolis Police Department (APD) on a workload study to help determine optimal officer staffing, deployment, response times, and effectiveness.
Effective resource allocation is crucial for law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety, maintain operational efficiency, and meet the needs of their communities. Current nationwide challenges related to the recruitment and retention of police officers make insights on adequate staffing and resource allocation even more important for police departments. An effective way to understand and navigate these challenges is to undertake a data-informed workload analysis.

A data-informed workload analysis uses administrative calls for service data to understand community needs and how they vary across jurisdictions, seasonally, and throughout any given day.  Community-informed approaches to public safety involve the determination of optimal staffing levels, an understanding of how and where to allocate resources, and a strategy for increasing, decreasing, or redistributing resources based on areas of need.
APD has been committed to this process and has been a highly collaborative partner with the UMD research team.

“We have been impressed by the commitment of Annapolis city leaders and the Annapolis Police Department community to this important work,” said MCRIC Director and Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice Bianca Bersani. “It’s clear that APD is facing workload challenges and that there is a strong commitment from the entire APD community to identifying these challenges and thinking creatively about how best to address them.”

The MCRIC study is holistic, bringing in multiple data points to garner a more complete picture of the current workload, considering the seasonal, geographic, and social factors that are unique to the city, as well as perceptions of specific challenges and opportunities that APD currently faces. The MCRIC researchers are consulting a variety of stakeholders both within and outside the APD community and involving the full agency across many levels, giving officers the opportunity for input into the study.

The MCRIC research study will help APD make decisions on optimizing posts, shifts, patrol areas, and community outreach officer deployment, and estimate needs for additional workforce to support public safety services.

Pritesh received his Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India, his MBA in Global Management from S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, India, and his MS in Supply Chain Management from the University of Maryland. During his tenure as a Supply Chain Analyst at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Pritesh led several high-impact projects focused on inventory management, supply chain analytics, and process improvement, significantly enhancing operational efficiencies. 

After completing his MS, Pritesh further honed his analytical skills as a Business Operations Analyst at Vanguard Supply Chain Solutions and Cordis, where he played a crucial role in optimizing business operations through data-driven strategies. His expertise in data analysis and visualization led him to join the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services in Maryland. As a Data Analyst, Pritesh was instrumental in developing key performance indicators for various grants and provided critical insights into crime statistics and trends.

Currently, Pritesh serves as a Faculty Assistant at the Maryland Crime Research and Innovation Center (MCRIC) at the University of Maryland, under the mentorship of Dr. Bianca Bersani and Prof. Shuvra. In this role, he applies his extensive background in data analysis and machine learning to conduct cutting-edge research and develop evidence-based strategies to enhance public safety and crime prevention policies. Pritesh's work is pivotal in informing policy decisions aimed at making Maryland's communities safer.

CV and LinkedIn

Areas of Interest

- Data Analysis and Database Management

- Data Visualization

- Project Management and Supply Chain Management

- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

- Quantitative Methods

Degrees

- B.Tech, Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Bhopal (2018)

- MBA, Global Management, S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (2022)

- MS, Supply Chain Management, University of Maryland (2023)

Awards

Terrapin Scholarship (2022)
Do Good Fellowship (2023)

Since 2019, the Maryland Crime Research and Innovation Center has supported an embedded data analyst in partnership with the Baltimore Police Department. The University of Maryland, Criminology and Criminal Justice program has long held the recognition of being the top program in the country, graduating high caliber students with important skillsets. This partnership provides an opportunity for students to engage with practitioners in real-world, real-time translational research. The success of the program has resulted in its continued and expanded presence in BPD and a new collaborative partnership with the Prince George’s Police Department.

In addition, MCRIC engages in the University of Maryland’s initiative to reimagine learning by engaging undergraduate and graduate students within the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department and across campus in transformative educational experiences regarding public safety research and practice outside of the classroom. Nearly all MCRIC projects engage students on applied research where they gain hands-on research experience and networking opportunities with public safety leaders across Maryland.

Given their scholarship, experience, and expertise, in 2023, UMD President Darryll J. Pines appointed Professors Jo Richardson and Woodie Kessel to co-direct PROGRESS.

About Professor Richardson

About Professor Kessel