Colombian National Police Plan Cuadrante Police Service Model Assessment

This project should support the goals of INL Bogota’s Law Enforcement Professionalization Section (LEPS): to disrupt and dismantle narcotrafficking and other transnational crime by enhancing CNP capabilities, processes, and internal structures. To contribute to this goal, this project will specifically seek to evaluate the strength of the of the CNP’s national deployment model (Plan Cuadrante) and provide recommendations, if warranted, that help the CNP: (1) Incorporate novel and effective practices and technology that result in police deployment techniques that further increase citizen security; and, (2) Increase police deployment and strengthen the rule of law in rural areas. The CNP’s police service model is Plan Cuadrante. Plan Cuadrante involves dividing jurisdictions into sectors, the CNP gives sector officers various responsibilities that involve connecting with the community, knowing the businesses, churches, schools, criminal element present, and community leaders. Plan Cuadrante uses data to identify high crime and public disorder sectors, bring together sector commanders, and problem-solve responses to crime and disorder problems in those areas. The model assigns personnel to sectors where data indicates a high incidence of crime and fewer personnel to sectors with low crime levels. The model seeks to lower crime and to allow police commanders to get the most out of the manpower they already have.