Evaluation of the Police Service Area Boundary Realignment

On May 2, 2004, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD) implemented a major restructuring of its Police Service Areas (PSAs) following in-depth analysis, public discussions and City Council review. The new structure was designed to enhance police services in District neighborhoods and increase community involvement in targeting crime. MPD aimed to accomplish this by aligning the PSAs more closely with DC neighborhoods, improving police coordination with other city services in addressing problems that affect crime, and giving Commanders the staffing flexibility to fight crime more effectively at the neighborhood level. The restructured plan reduced the number of PSAs from 83 to 441. thus creating new boundaries for all of the PSAs as well as for five of the seven police districts.