In February 2024, the Wauwatosa Police Department launched a data-driven crime prevention initiative known as hot spots policing. This is an approach that concentrates law enforcement efforts in areas where crime is more likely to occur. Now, the Wauwatosa Police Department is taking a significant step forward, partnering with Dr. Eric Piza and Northeastern University’s Crime Prevention Lab in a groundbreaking research collaboration.

“National research shows that for any city, about 4-5% of places (street corners or street blocks) account for 50-75% of crime. Wauwatosa has that same concentration,” said Dr. Piza. “That means your crime prevention resources should be concentrated to match those hot spots.”

This three-phase project is designed to do more than just study crime patterns; it aims to make the Wauwatosa Police Department a leader in police-led science, a model where officers actively engage in developing and testing crime prevention strategies. The goal? To build a policing model that is not only evidence-based but also sustainable within the department.

“What’s particularly exciting about this project for me is that we get to explore these ideas in a midsize agency. The lessons we learn here are going to be directly relevant for a majority of police departments in America,” added Dr. Piza.

A Science-Based Approach to Public Safety

For years, research has shown that policing strategies are most effective when they rely on data and empirical evidence. Traditionally, police departments have looked to external researchers for insight into crime prevention. But this project flips the script.

“Police-led science is taking our intuition and the calls we respond to…and considering research studies that include tens of thousands of officer perspectives.” explained Detective David Cefalu, DBA. He is the co-principal investigator on the project. “I’d describe our goal as proactively policing to reduce crime.”

In the field, this looks like a police officer on patrol at a specific spot in the city, being aware of the previous month’s crime analytics and then being asked to discover – what is happening in the field that could be influencing these results? Beyond enforcement, could there be overgrown trees that block view and lead to traffic incidents? Could there be ways to build relationships with the businesses or residences on this block? 

The project will unfold in three phases. Phase one focuses on evaluating the Wauwatosa Police Department’s current hot spots policing intervention, which was deployed in 2024 as a randomized controlled trial. Researchers will analyze crime trends, officer deployment, and community impact to understand what’s working and what can be improved. 

The initial results from phase one indicate that Wauwatosa police officers substantially increased the amount of time spent at these target areas, and corresponding calls for service decreased.

“This isn’t just raw numbers. By using control groups and analyzing variables, we can be more confident about what’s influencing crime trends,” said Det. Cefalu.

Building Internal Research Capacity

Beyond evaluating existing strategies, the Wauwatosa Police Department is also looking ahead to the future. In phase two, the department will establish an internal working group dedicated to evidence-based policing. This group will bring together officers and analysts to develop data-driven solutions for public safety challenges in Wauwatosa.

“By creating an internal research team, we’re ensuring that evidence-based policing isn’t just a one-time initiative, but a core part of how the Wauwatosa Police Department operates,” said Det. Cefalu.

From Research to Real-World Impact

In the final phase of the project, the Wauwatosa Police Department and Northeastern University prepare a report of their findings. These results will not only guide policing strategies in Wauwatosa but could also serve as a national model for other mid-sized police departments looking to integrate research into their operations.

As the Wauwatosa Police Department continues its journey toward police-led science, the partnership with Northeastern University offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of evidence-based policing. With a commitment to data, innovation, and community safety, Wauwatosa is proving that smart policing isn’t just about responding to crime - it’s about preventing it.

Read more about the project on Northeastern University's website.